783 



von Speier), Hernan Perez de Quesada, and 

 Felipe de Urre (Philip von Huten), undertaken 

 in 1536, 1542, and 1545, furnish, amid much 

 exaggeration, proofs of very exact local know- 

 ledge *. When these are examined merely in a 

 geographical point of yiew, we perceive the con- 

 stant desire of the first conquistador es y to reach 

 the land comprised between the sources of the 

 Rio Negro, of the Uaupes (Guape), and of the 

 Jupura, or Caqueta. This is the land, which, 

 in order to distinguish it from the Dorado de la 

 Parime, we have called above the Dorado des 

 Omagaas^. No doubt the whole country be- 

 tween the Amazon and the Oroonoko was 

 vaguely known by the name of Provincias del 

 Dorado but in this vast extent of forests 

 savannahs, and mountains, the progress of those 

 who sought the great lake with auriferous banks, 

 and the town of the Gilded King, was directed 

 toward two points only, on the north-east and 

 south-west of the Rio Negro ; that is to Parima 



* We may be surprised to see, that the expedition of Huten 

 is passed over in absolute silence by Herera, (Dec. 7, lib. 10, 

 cap. vii, vol. iv, p. 238). Fray Pedro Simon gives the whole 

 particulars of it, true or fabulous ; but he composed his work 

 from materials, that were unknown to Herera. (See above> 

 p. 324.) 



f In 1560 Pedro de Ursua even took the title of Governa- 

 dor del Dorado y de Omagua. (Fray Pedro Simon, vol vi, 

 chap, x, p. 430.) 



X Herera, Dec. 5, lib. 9, cap. vi. (vol. iii, p. 21 L). 



