El Dorado is a town in East Trinidad. Connoisseurs of strong rum savour El Dorado. There's even a legend of El Dorado. The legend which evokes images of los conquistadores crashing through heartland in search of gold is told in graphic detail in The Story of Trinidad to 1797.It forms part of a four-volume story of Trinidad covering the period from 1498 to 1900. It was written by the late Douglas Archibald. The legend has the Trini element of "horn" to it.
An excerpt said: "Once upon a time, before the coming of the Europeans to the New World, there dwelt on the tableland of Bogota, in which is now a Republic of Colombia, a cacique and his proud and beautiful wife. The woman had been unfaithful, and, knowing remorse, left their village one day and climbed into the highlands, until she reached a desolate gray lake Guatavita, at an elevation of 10,000 feet and was completely surrounded by mountains."
She committed suicide.
"She threw herself from the water and was drowned. Each year following her death, the unhappy and grieving husband would come to Lake Guatavita, with offerings of gold and precious stones, attended by his priests and thousands of his people. He would pay tribute to the memory of his wife."The ceremony commenced with the priests smearing completely the body of the cacique with a resinous gum and then covering him from head to toe with gold dust. After this, his people would line the shores of the Lake, in silence. The cacique would step on the raft made of balsa, that was laden with his offerings, and it would be paddled out slowly into the centre of the lake. There, the cacique would throw gold and precious stones into the water, and then immerse himself in it until the gold dust on his body had been washed off. Meanwhile, the throngs on the shore would shout and beat drums and throw their own small offerings, figurines and ornaments into the waters of the Lake also."
Word of the ritual spread to the Spaniards.
"Learning of this legend, they made many journeys to the Lake, but they never found any trace of gold or precious stones either in the water or the shores. The legend spread from mouth to mouth and over many leagues. Finally, the Spaniards, and other Europeans, came to believe that El Dorado, the Gilded One, was a king in the golden city of Manoa, on the shores of the Lake called Parima. It was situated somewhere in the vastness of Guyana. The belief spread throughout many lands and attracted numerous adventurers. It is said Sebastian de Belalcazar, who founded the city of Quito in 1534, invented the title El Dorado."
While the legend gained a foothold, Archibald offers a sobering view.
He said: "In this world of ours, El Dorado and the Fountain of Youth were not, in the distant past, the accepted legends they are today. There were once realities in the minds of men, who, venturing out into the unknown and suffering extreme privations at times, sought material enrichment of perpetual youth, oblivious of the natural wealth that lay around them as they stepped from one island to another: to lose their souls and their lives."
Historical personalities
The book explores the input of historical personalities including governors José Maria Chacon, Antonio de Berrio, Sanchez de Sotomayor, Chevalier de Caltrava, Diego Lopez de Escobar and Walter Raleigh. Berrio died penniless, and, possibly, mad. Raleigh was beheaded because El Dorado had beckoned, and, then eluded them both.An excerpt said: "Chacon went into exile in Portugal and lived for many years in extreme poverty. After the fall of Napoleon and the return of Ferdinand VII to Spain he was pardoned."In 1824, a descendant said: "The period of the administration of Chacon was the golden age of Trinidad. Commerce flourished, justice poised an equal scale and prejudice was driven to skulk in the dark abodes of a few illiberal earthborn breasts."
The story of Trinidad
The hardcover volume contains illustrations, photographs, paintings and drawings to propel the riveting read. One image that stands out is a conflagration raging through the Spanish Fleet at Chaguaramas Bay. The historical work is well-researched and provides details.It is recommended reading for any citizen interested in getting a sound knowledge of T&T's history. History students would welcome the text. Not to mention, it makes an interesting reading for bibliophiles and history buffs.In its foreword, the late Olga Mavrogordato said: "I would like to point out Archibald's unique manner of involving world events into the development of Trinidad, which has never been attempted by other historians. He has not spared himself in his research, and his books are not the dry accounting of historical facts particular to Trinidad, but are treasure chests of information perhaps unknown to the average reader."He has kindled the glowing coals of history in the hope readers will fan the embers into a living flame of appreciation and dedication to our native land."