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Show GOLD HID IN GUATAVITA'S TREASURE THAT LIES DEEP IN MUD OF VOLCANIC LAKE. Story of the Effort to Recover Fab- ulcus Rlchei Which Were Cast Into the Lake Centurlei Ago. Tho story of tho hunt which the , Contractors' Company, Limited, of London, has mado for golden treasure at Lako Quatnvlta, In Colombia, where It Is supposed that tho native Chlb-chas Chlb-chas centuries ago cast millions of Bold and precious stones In carrying out tho peculiar rites of their religion Is nn Interesting ono. The company has spent thousands of dollars In draining tho lako that they might get at the treasuro supposed sup-posed to be burled there, and now thoy are praying for rain to All It again, for when tho water had all been drained off, It was found that tho mud at tho bottom was 25 feet deep and , 'would have to bo washed away to get at tho treasure supposed to Ho nt tho bottom. But with tho water drained out and tho clouds withholding their accustomed molsturo, tho equatorial sun soon baked tho surfaco of tho bottom bot-tom as hard as a rock. This put a stop to tho effort to get at tho treasure and for two years now tbo company has been waiting for rain. Gold Idol Recovered from Lake, r Tho reason for tho belief that this lako holds untold treasuro Is duo to a religious ceremony which tho Chlb-cias Chlb-cias observed. Thoso natives regard.-'cd regard.-'cd tho Lako of Ouatuvltrt; a llttlo pool In tho crater of an extinct volcano, eomo 9,000 feet abovo tho sea level, as sacred. They bolleed their projecting pro-jecting deity lhe1 In It. This dolty was known as Kl Dorado, which means, not as Is generally bnlloved, tho golden city, but "Tho Golden Ono." To this "Golden Ono" tho Chtuchas offered up every six months a Bacrl-flco Bacrl-flco which would mnko oven tho mouth of a South African millionaire water. They throw Into tho lako at each of theso ceremonies an enormous mount of gold and precious stones. Tho following account of ono of theso offerings, given by ono of tho descendants of the Chlhchas, reads more) Itko a gorgeous romanco than reality, but It must bo rememboied that tho discoveries slnco mado by Europeans to some extent at least confirm tho truth of this strango legend. leg-end. "All tho people," says tho narrator, "marching In solemn procession, with music and banners fl)lng, assembled from tho various towns and villages round tho shores of tho lake. Pres-ently, Pres-ently, after a silence, they mado a great outcry, for there, In n litter on tho top of one of the surrounding hills, they saw a golden man glittering glitter-ing In tho sunlight. This was their king, who had first been bathed in a kind of turpcntlno and then covered with powdurod gold. He came slowly Houses of EnQlneers Who Are Walt Infl for Rain. down tbo hill, and embarked on a great barge. At his feet was a pile of gold and another of emeralds. He was slowly rowed to the center of tho lako, four barges bearing priests surrounding sur-rounding tho king's vessel. Then braziers bra-ziers wcro lighted on tho barges, and, a great bonfire on tho slioro. Tho assembled as-sembled people cried out to their dolty, whtlo drums and pipes sounded, sound-ed, and tho priests raised their hands to hcavoii. "At a sign tho mullltudo turned their backs to tho lake, for tho common com-mon pcoplo might not witness tho actual sacrifice. A moment later thoro wns a great splash. Glided king, gold and jewels, wero all plunged Into tho sacred wators. Tho glided monarch swam In tho lake, leaving a glittering glitter-ing wnko behind him, while tho people, peo-ple, with ronowed'clamor, throw their personal offerings of gold over their he.tds Into tho pool. Then king and people, believing their sins for tho last six months hud been expatiated, joined In u great festivity." |