The Spaniards declared that it was part of the religious duty of this tribe to have their chief bathed once a year in a certain lake which was sacred to them.
Great preparations were made for this ceremony. The body of the chief was first smeared with gold-dust and oil of balsam, and, a handful of gold and precious stones was given to him. He then advanced to the shores of the lake, and amid the prayers and chants of his tribe, first cast the gold and jewels into the water, and then plunged in himself.
This ceremony was supposed to bring his people good luck for the coming year.
The Spaniards who conquered New Granada, or the Republic of Colombia, declared this story to be strictly true, but as none of them had ever witnessed the ceremony, it is supposed to be merely another form of the El Dorado legend.
In British India there is a fresh uprising which appears to be of a very serious character.
A body of tribesmen attacked a camp in the Chitral District, killing some of the British soldiers, and severely wounding others.
Chitral is on the northeast border of India, where it joins Afghanistan.
The tribes in this portion of the Empire have always given the English a great deal of trouble. They are very bold, and good fighters.
The country they inhabit is very mountainous, and they have one mode of warfare which makes them a very ugly foe to attack. They throw down rocks on an invading force, and long practice has made them so expert in this art that they are most formidable. When once they have taken to their mountain fastnesses, soldiers do not like the task of pursuing and punishing them.