204 LAKE OF GUATAVITA. 



ever attempted it ; and had got within four- 

 teen feet of the bottom, when the sides fell 

 in with a tremendous crash ; and the La- 

 goon having springs in it, the waters began 

 to rise. The Spaniards however had time, 

 by examining the banks, and washing the 

 mud and soil, to procure a sufficient sum to 

 pay the government a quinta of one hun- 

 dred and seventy thousand dollars (a quinta 

 is three per cent.) ; and one emerald pro- 

 cured, and sent to Madrid, was alone va- 

 lued at seventy thousand dollars. Several 

 other attempts were made previously to the 

 breaking out of the revolution ; but none 

 succeeded. At last, having a speculating 

 turn," continued my friend Pepe, I deter- 

 mined to undertake it. Getting a grant from 

 the executive government, I formed a com- 

 pany with sixteen shares, each person giv- 

 ing me five hundred dollars, in all eight 

 thousand, which I thought would be suffi- 

 cient ; but unfortunately it has now cost me 



