Eldorado, gold country

In 1525 for the Land on which the present Colombia, was the greatest event — landed on the shore of the Spanish conquistadors. In the new open world it was not so, as in the Old world. Other trees, other animals, other birds.

In the jungle, the troops of the conquistadors were greeted by a strange naked people. The Spaniards were amazed. Met the natives, almost every was gold jewelry. Conquistadors began to look for the source of wealth of the Indians. They begged and demanded to show them the place where the Indians took the gold.



The natives do not really understand why strange people this metal. Local tribes treated him almost with indifference. Mostly gold was used for the performance of ritual ceremonies, and decorations, as this soft metal can be easily processed. The Spaniards also lost consciousness when he saw gleaming on the neck and wrists jewelry. The conquerors did not remain the slightest doubt that they had found a land where gold just countless. In their view, every Minister of the conquest had to immediately get filthy rich.



Indians to get rid of the dangerous and strange aliens in steel armor came up and told them the tale of the country in which they were all gold. But to get to a wonderful land far across the jungle. The Spaniards believed this vynechane the country, they called El Dorado — gold plated. Taking with him as guides, the Indians, and they went in search of Eldorado. Some groups went West, the other to the Northwest, but the road was equally difficult. The Spaniards cuts through through the undergrowth, using axes and daggers. In the impenetrable jungle, the conquistadors were drowned in the marshes, pogibali from disease and wild beasts.



There were days, weeks, Selva was not over. But the desire to get to the gold was so great that they did not pay attention to fallen comrades. Gold meant not only luxurious life but also enormous power. So they came to the foot of the Eastern Cordillera. Moving forward, they preached Christianity, leaving the native tribes and their governors and are constantly asking about a country where lots and lots of gold.

One of the units stopped in the town of Guatavita. There lived tribes Moscow. Moisci many wore gold ornaments, these were real works of art. At first the Spaniards tried to make friends with the leaders, offered in exchange for the gold beads, glass, iron objects. The thirst for gold of the conquistadors seized more and more. Under the threat of violence, the tribal leaders told the Spaniards that not far away is the lake where the bottom is full of gold.



The Indians had a ritual of consecration of the leader. It was coated with the resin, then sprinkled gold sand, which were abundant in the mountain rivers. Then, the future leader went on a raft in the middle of the lake. There he sang the prayer and the gift of the gods threw into the water gold jewelry. Assembled on the Bank was shouting and also threw in water gold jewelry as a gift to the gods. Then the head of the tribe was washed off the resin and Golden sand. Then began a great celebration.

Water in a mountain lake was icy and dive one of the Spaniards did not dare. The Spaniards had chosen a different path. Near the Golden lake, they found rivers and streams, the rich Golden sand. In 1539 they established a large settlement, which later became the capital of Colombia, Bogota.



Later replaced the conquistadors came the hordes of the colonizers and in the valleys of the Magdalena river there are major gold mines. A lot of gold Moscow were exported to Spain. But modern Colombia received capital Bogota, which is the gold Museum. Here are a unique collection of 36 thousand gold jewelry.

This, of course, a small fraction of the total wealth of the Indians, but there are a myriad of stories and legends. Still looking for romance in the jungle the fabulous city of El Dorado.

Source: /users/1617