THE COLOMBIAN LAKES. 



161 



relate how the god Bochica had cleft the mountain in twain with his golden wand 

 to let the waters escape over the Tequendama Falls, The most recent outflow 

 from the plateau appears to have been towards the north-west by the Rio Negro 

 valley, where the lacustrine shells left on the terraced margins are still quite 

 fresh. 



A few tarns scattered over the plateau still recall the former inland sea. Such 

 are the sacred waters of Guatavita and Guasca, whose beds are supposed to be 

 paved with gems and objects in gold. On certain occasions the paramount chief 

 of the land plunged into the lake all covered with gold dust glued to his skin by 

 the viscous sap of a plant. By laving his body the spirit of the waters accepted 



Fig. 62. — Pasto Plateau and the Cocha Basin. 

 Scale 1 : l,0uo,0OO. 



30 





:%'-\mH'W'^mm%w\ . "- 1 1; 





77°40- 



VVest or breenwich 



-A -.■■^:/,h.y'\i\>.-;--:i:- ^ 



77°iO' 



18 Miles. 



the precious gift, as well as the other costly offerings thrown in by the assembled 

 multitudes. This cacique of the Chibchas was the " man of gold " (JSi Dorado) 

 whom the Spaniards, after finding him on the Cundinamarca plateau, still vainly 

 sought in so many other regions of the New World. 



The chroniclers having left on record that, after the loss of their freedom, the 

 Indians cast all their treasures into Lake Guatavita, search was afterwards made, 

 and many precious objects dredged up from the muddy bed. Later attempts were 

 made to drain the basin altogether, and recently its level was lowered by about 

 50 feet. 



The Lake of Fuquene, of which the Rio Saravita is the outlet, and which had 

 formerly an area of 160 square miles, is also disappearing, and at present has a 

 12 



