The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1920-07-29

II unknown forests of Venezuela
! IL by Theodore De BODY of the
American Geographical society
and the Museum Of the University Of
pennsylvania have brought to the
knowledge of ethnologistS a race of
dwarf Indians that live in an eternal
fog, far more impenetrable than that
! of London, and whose members get
drunk regularly once a month Mr..
De BODY also has located a treasure
cave that will be of equal interest to
the archaeOlOgist and to the seeker
of gold. deep in a wilderness that not
even the Indians viii penetrate.
In full sight Of the mountain at the
base of which the cave is located the
explorer was forced to turn back be-
cause his Indian guides and carriers
refused TO continue the journey. One
Of their reasons was a lack of food,
but the principal objection apparently
was superstitious fear of the spirits
Of warriors buried in the cave after
great battle told about in their ira
border of Venezuela and Colombia.
ut is quite probable, almost certain,
In fact" says Mr.. De BODY in the mu-
scum Journal, that this burial cave
contains archaeological treasures of
the highest value. Our archaeological
researches proved without doubt
the entire region had at one time been
Inhabited by the Arhuacos, a tribe Of
which small remnant still lives in
the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta.
The Motilones, which includes the
Maccas, were evidently comparative
newcomers to the region and had
either driven out the Arhuacos or had
killed them off, probably only a short
while before the Conquest. Research
es by other archaeologists have proven
that similar occurrence took place
in the Goajira peninsula directly to
the northward, and that the Goajiras
superseded the Arhuacos in this latter
region.
Treasures Of Gold Workers.
'The burial cave, therefore, prob
ably contains Arhuacan specimens,
and as the Arhuacans were excellent
workers In gold and had quantities
Of gold ornaments 1t will be seen that
the chances Of this cave containing
gold ornaments as well as burial OBJ
Jects of other kinds are very good.
Two days before coming within sight
Of the peak in which the cave was
to be found, the Indians had shown
me certain regions where evidence
could still be seen Of former clear
ings. These clearings were of consid-
cradle age and were only distinguish
ed from the surrounding woods by
the fact that the trees were not quite
as large and the underground of
lesser density"
Mr.. De BODY landed at Maracaibo
and spent two days on horseback
crossing the plain to La Horqueta,
one of the last outposts of civilization
in Venezuela. He had to pass part Of
this time over a narrow and gloomy
trail through a wilderness Astounding
with tigers, jaguars, wildcats, mon
keys and deer. Beyond this forest Is
a great plain and back of that the |
with their heads lost in |
the fog. "While the altitude of these |
is not sufficiently high to |
make them snow covered" says the |
explorer, '"the fog and mists at times |
would almost make one think that the |
were covered with snow"
In the days of the Conquistadores La
villa, little town along the route to
La Horqueta, was the starting point |
for raiding expeditions into the In
dian territory to the south of the Rio
Negro. The town is filled with ruined |
Of houses and a quaint
old church still stands. 1t is said |
10 be the oldest in that part Of the
country.
Nine hours travel through the
Jungle from La Horqueta De Rooy
,ame to the settlement of Machiques,
outside Of which be found members
IF the Tucucus Indians, who come
Town to the mountains to work occa-
'ionally in exchange for hoop iron, !