GUIANA. 655 



many bands of Spanish adventurers in succession, in spite of 

 the most terrific dangers and difficulties, fought their way 

 amid hostile natives in search of the far-famed El Dorado. 

 Among the first bands was that led by the celebrated Philip 

 Von Huten. They had heard that in the interior of the 

 country there existed a golden region, surpassing even the 

 wildest descriptions of that of Peru. It was said that some 

 of the royal race of the Incas, escaping from their Spanish 

 invaders, had established a new dynasty amid the mountains, 

 on the shores of a beautiful lake, the sands of which contained 

 gold in prodigious quantities. The houses of his capital were 

 covered with plates of gold. The vessels of the royal palace 

 were of the same metal ; and so abundant was it, that the 

 natives, anointing their bodies with a glutinous substance, 

 sprinkled them over with the dust. The person of the sove- 

 reign was especially thus adorned by his attendants. Oviedo 

 remarks " As this kind of garment would be uneasy whilst 

 sleeping, the prince washes himself every evening, and is 

 gilded afresh in the morning;" thus proving that the empire 

 of El Dorado is infinitely rich in mines. 



Von Huten and his band, after desperate fighting, were 

 compelled to retire, just as they believed they had seen in the 

 far-off distance the shining roofs of the splendid city. Their 

 leader was preparing another expedition when he fell by the 

 hand of an assassin. 



Notwithstanding the dangers to be encountered from the 

 fierce Caribs who, sheltered by trees and rocks everywhere, 

 attacked their foes with poisoned arrows -and the numerous 

 disappointments which occurred, fresh bands of adventurers, 

 age after age, still believing in the fabled wealth which was 

 to be their prize should they succeed, set forth, in hope of 



