Gilpin observer., 1912-05-30

another is not surprising when remember
that the Indians of Darien and Costa Rica. long
before Francisco PZarros advent in Peru, were
aware of the wealth and the power of the Incas
in the remote south. And that there should have
been different accounts regarding the character
and place Of abode of this marvellous savage Is
what might have been expected by one who
knows how prone Indians are to exaggerate or
to modify what they have heard to suit
their fancy. The may in measure
be said of the Spaniards also After the successes
achieved by their countrymen in Mexico and
Peru, and after the millions of treasure which
had been found in the lands Of the Aztecs. Chb-
chas and 1ncas. they were prepared for anything
Nothing seemed impossible. and no tale about
gilded men golden palaces SO extravagant
as to be rejected as false. They were ready to
give full credence to even greater fctions than
the Golden Fleece or the Apples Of the Hesper-
ides, and would not have been surprised to find
Ophir or Tarshish in the valleys OF the Orinoco
or the Amazon. The spirit of adventure and
nance dominated everyone not only in the Indies
but in the mother country as well. For all this
Spanish nation, writes an old chronicler 'is
desrous of novelties that what way soever
they bee called with becke only. or soft whis-
pering voyce, to anything arising above water.
they speedily prepare themselves to file and for
sake certainties. under hope of higher degree
to follow Uncertainties. which may gather by
that which is past"
1t vague and fantastic rumor like this
that lured Belalcasar from Quito to the Sabana
of distant Bogota, where he met Quesada and
Federmann According to the Indian from whom
the Spanish chieftain received his information,
the province of El Dorado called Cundiru-
marca, and was not more than twelve days dis
tant from Quito. This distance, If the Indians
statement was true, would preclude the plain OF
Bogota the home of the Gilded Man. for it
was impossible to reach this place in such a linn
tied time. Besides, Cundirumarca is a Quichua
word. and could not it is asserted, have been
the name OF a province in New Granada, where
the language of the lncas unknown. Despite
therefore, the positive statement OF Piedrahita
that the motive of Belacazar's expedition to the
north was the discovery of Ell Dorado and the
House of the Sum- 1t may be that the real reason
was the desire on the part of Pizarros lieutenant
TO cut loose from his chief and find country
of which he himself might become the adelan
tado. Subsequent events and the relization of his
desire to be appointed governor of Popayan give
color to this surmise.
Whether, however, Belalcazar misunderstood
his informant regarding the location of the prov.
ince of Cundirumarca, whether he was merely
looking for pretext for escaping from Peru
where he was overshadowed by Pizarro II ia Ger.
tain that the next expedition in search of ri
Dorado. by some considered the first genuine ex.
pedtion in quest of the Gilded King was headed
for the eastern slopes of the Andes instead Of
for the northern plateau OF New Granada. The
country Of the Gilded King, it was now Thought
in the vicinity of the Land of Cinnamon
and preparations were forthwith made to ada
these rich lands to the possessions of the Snap
ish crown.