ELDORADO 69 



rudely made of canes and rushes for the purpose of 

 catching fish. They were very much startled at our 

 approach, hut their fears were soon calmed, and find- 

 ing they had some roots, I sent some men with goods 

 to trade with them. 



"They were almost entirely naked, looking very poo»; 

 and miserable, as if their lives had been spent in the 

 rushes where they were, beyond which they seemed 

 to have very little knowledge of anything. M}' men 

 purchased a small quantity of roots and meat, which 

 they indicated was bear meat. Leaving the encamp- 

 ment early, we directed our course for a high peninsu- 

 lar 'butte' across a low, shrubby plain. Before us was 

 evidently the bed of a lake, being a salt marsh, per- 

 fectly level and bare, with here and there a pool of 

 water, and having the appearance of a level seashore 

 at low tide. We proceeded in the direction of the 

 'butte.' still several miles distant, as it would probably 

 aiTord a good view of the lake. We finally succeeded 

 in reaching it without much difficulty, and, ascending 

 to the summit, immediately at our feet beheld the 

 object of our anxious search, the waters of the inland 

 sea, stretching in still and solitary grandeur far be- 

 yond the limit of our vision. It was one of the great 

 points of our exploration, and as we looked eagerly 

 over the lake in the first emotions of excited pleasure 

 I am doubtful if the followers of Balboa felt more en- 

 thusiasm when from the heights of the Andes they 

 saw for the first time the great western ocean. It was 

 certainly a magnificent object and a noble terminus 

 to this part of our expedition, and to travelers so long 

 shut up among mountain ranges a sudden view over 

 the expanse of silent waters had in it something 



