Atahualpas Ransom & Other Treasure Fables

August 26, 2011 by Andean Air Mail & PERUVIAN TIMES !ea"e a #$%%ent By Daniel Buck ~ Special to Peruvian Times ~ &$' %any arg$nauts (a"e barreled (eadl$ng int$ t(e Andes and t(e A%a)$n, lusting *$r ri+(es, N$ $ne +an say *$r sureAlluring tales $* '$ndr$us l$st +i"ili)ati$ns built by g$ld and ge% bedi)ened Indians (a"e s.ar/ed t(e i%aginati$ns $* Eur$.ean and N$rt( A%eri+an treasure (unters e"er sin+e Ata(ual.a *illed a 101by120 *$$t r$$% 'it( rans$% g$ld *$r Pi)arr$Ata(ual.a2s rans$% didn2t d$ t(e e%.er$r %u+( g$$d 3 (is +$n4uistad$r +a.t$rs e5e+uted (i% any'ay 3 but drea%s $* si%ilar ri+(es in t(e lands $* t(e *$r%er In+a e%.ire (a"e ins.ired +$untless gullible e5.l$rers and in"est$rs, $*ten %ani.ulated by s'indlers- &ere are s$%e $* t(eir st$ries-

Entre.reneur August$ R- 6erns 'as n$t t(e *irst %an t$ .r$%ise treasure in t(e Andes, but (e %ig(t (a"e been t(e %$st *an+i*ul- &is 1771 .r$s.e+tus 8 'ritten '(ile (e 'as li"ing in 9etr$it, Mi+(igan 8 *$r t(e de"el$.%ent $* an alleged g$ld .r$.erty in Peru2s Uruba%ba Valley, in*$r%ed .$tential in"est$rs t(at t(e regi$n 'as %$re li/e :t(e s$ut( $* ;ran+e %$re t(an any $t(er< .la+e $n eart(-

T(e .r$.erty, :T$r$nt$y $r #er+ada1de1San Ant$ni$ Estate in S$ut(ern Peru,< an 71by117 s4uare1%ile se+ti$n $* t(e "alley, n$t $nly ri"aled Pr$"en+e, but als$ +$ntained a stair'ay and .a"ed r$ad t(at as+ended t$ +ertain ruins, '(i+( 6erns e5tra"agantly +alled :T(e T$'ns $* t(e =$ld and Sil"er S%it(s $* t(e Andes-< An$t(er auri*er$us tr$"e $n (is land, :!la%a>+ans(a,< 6erns (el.*ully translated as :=$ld ?ard-< In reality, it %eans :!la%a ?ard-< 6erns 'as selling (is in"est$rs a l$ad $* lla%a dungAll in all, 6erns e%.(asi)ed, :t(e @&A!E 9ISTRI#T, generally, $nly re4uires t$ be /n$'n and $.ened u. t$ be uni"ersally re+$gni)ed as t(e greatest g$ld and sil"er .r$du+ing +entre in t(e '$rld, and t(us $* i%%ense "alue t$ any b$dy $* +a.italists .$ssessing really ade4uate %eans t$ .r$*it by it in a MER#ANTI!E as 'ell as %ineral .$int $* "ie'-< T(e enter.rise '$uld re4uire t(e .ay%ent $* a se%i1annual B16 :%ining !i+ense,< '(i+( '$uld :entitle any .r$.riet$r t$ sear+( *$r t(e .re+i$us %etals $r *$r (idden treasure Ct(e last a +$%%$n and s$%eti%es lu+rati"e $++u.ati$n in Peru-D<

August$ R- 6ernsE 1771 %a. $* (is T$r$nt$y .r$.erty, +$ntaining t(e F!la%a #$rral,F '(i+( (e +reati"ely +alled t(e F=$ld ?ard- C#li+/ I%age t$ EnlargeD T(ereEs n$ e"iden+e (e e"er e5tra+ted a lla%a dr$..ing $r a g$ld nugget- In *a+t, in 1771 (e 'as in Mi+(igan, *lee+ing A%eri+an in"est$rs6erns 'as 'illing t$ sell t(e entire estate *$r B00,000 8 %$re t(an a %illi$n d$llars in t$day2s %$ney 8 $* '(i+( BG0,000 'as t$ .ay $** t(e %$rtgage, B10,000 t$ .ay t(e +lai%s $* (is *$r%er .artners, and B10,000 t$ .ay t(e e5.enses (e (ad a++rued- In $t(er '$rds, (e 'as $**ering t$ sell '(at (e (ad des+ribed as t(e :greatest g$ld and sil"er .r$du+ing +entre in t(e '$rld< *$r n$t(ing %$re t(an t(e a%$unt $* (is $utstanding debts6ut (e set a (ig( bar- &is .r$s.e+tus indi+ated t(at any buyer %ust be :a syndi+ate $r +$%.any $* b$na *ide +a.italists,< 'illing t$ +$%%it n$ less t(an B10 %illi$n 8 %$re t(an B200 %illi$n t$day 8 t$ t(e de"el$.%ent $* t(e .r$.erty- T(e buyer %ust be agreeable t$ .aying 6erns B0,000 a year and, :as tra"eling is e5tre%ely e5.ensi"e in Peru,< an additi$nal B0,000 $r %$re in annual tra"el e5.enses- In t$day2s %$ney, t(at '$uld be ab$ut B100,000 a year@(at be+a%e $* t(e T$r$nt$y s+(e%e is n$t /n$'n- T$day, s$%e argue t(at 6erns 'as re*erring t$ Ma+(u Pi++(u, but t(e T$r$nt$y .r$.erty 8 assu%ing (e e"en $'ned it 8 illustrated $n (is %a. 'as $n t(e $..$site side $* t(e Uruba%ba Ri"er *r$% Ma+(u Pi++(u- In any e"ent, t(ere is n$ indi+ati$n t(at any :b$na *ide +a.italists< e"er a..eared at 6erns2s d$$r $r t(at a single g$ld nugget 'as e"er *$undSe"eral years later, n$' ba+/ in Peru, 6erns laun+(ed an$t(er s+(e%e, t(e :#$%.aHIa AnJni%a E5.l$rad$ra de las K&ua+as del In+a2 !i%itada,< and re+ruited e%inent Peru"ians and *$reign residents, in+luding t(e 6ritis( "i+e +$nsul in M$llend$, as b$ard %e%bers $r agents- T(e +$%.any2s .r$s.e+tus said t(at t(e g$"ern%ent $* Peru :(as guaranteed t(e su++ess $* $ur enter.rise-< &ardly- In 1777, $ne year a*ter :&ua+as del In+a< 'as $rgani)ed, its "i+e1.resident resigned, +(arging t(at 6erns (ad been using +$%.any *unds *$r .ers$nal use and (ad *ailed t$ laun+( a single treasure1(unting e5.editi$n-

I* t(ere 'as e"er a %an '($ li"ed u. t$ Mar/ T'ain2s adage t(at :a g$ld %ine is a ($le in t(e gr$und al$ngside $* '(i+( stands a liar,< it 'as Ray%$nd M+#une- In 1L12, (e :*l$ated a large +$r.$rati$n,< t(e @as(ingt$n P$st re.$rted, :$n t(e strengt( $* (a"ing dis+$"ered t(e s$ur+e $* t(e g$ld $* t(e an+ient In+as-< S.e+i*i+ally, (e $rgani)ed t'$ +$r.$rati$ns, t(e Peru"ian E5.l$rati$n #$%.any and MaraH$n Ri"er Pla+ers, In+-, and *lee+ed in"est$rs t$ t(e tune $* se"eral (undred t($usand d$llars- A%$ng t(e *lee+ed 'ere .r$%inent 9ela'areans, in+luding %e%bers $* t(e 9uP$nt *a%ily-

M+#une 'as an unli/ely *igure t$ get %i5ed u. in su+( a *raud- &is *at(er, %ulti1 %illi$naire Uta( industrialist A-@- M+#une, 'as a .artner in t(e #err$ de Pas+$ +$..er %ine in Peru and (ad e5tensi"e %ineral ($ldings in t(e A%eri+an @estRay%$nd M+#une +lai%ed t(at (is g$ld de.$sits, s$%e'(ere near t(e (ead'aters $* t(e MaraH$n, 'ere '$rt( (al* a billi$n d$llars, ab$ut B10 billi$n t$day- A .r$s.e+tus 'ent e"en *urt(er, saying t(at t(e enter.rise2s dire+t$rs :are $* t(e $.ini$n t(eirs are t(e %$st "aluable g$ld1bearing .la+ers yet dis+$"ered in t(e '$rld2s (ist$ry-< M+#une .redi+ted t(at earnings *r$% t(e endea"$r :$ug(t t$ a%$unt t$ B600,000 a year-< Ane ne's a++$unt .r$"ided t(e ba+/ st$ryM :T(e .r$s.e+tus re(earsed s$%e $* t(e (ist$ry $* Pi)arr$ and t(e In+as, and asserted t(e belie* t(at t(e In+as2 rans$% +a%e *r$% t(e MaraH$n Ri"er, *$r it e5.lainedM KT(e .ur.$se $* t(e nu%er$us guard t$'ers, t(e ruins $* '(i+( are l$+ated $n .re+i.it$us and 'ell1nig( i%.regnable +li**s $"er(anging t(e MaraH$n Ri"er, 'as t(at t(e de*enders $* t(e g$ld 'as(ings standing $n t(e t$.s $* t(e +li**s %ig(t s($'er r$+/s $n an atta+/ing *$r+e 'it($ut danger $* t(eir ene%ies being able t$ s+ale t(e +li**s-2< M+#une (ad re.$rtedly :en+$untered an Indian $* great age, '($ %ig(t be des+ribed as t(e last $* t(e In+as, and '($ (ad re"ealed '(ere t(e really ri+( de.$sits lay-<

@($ ble' t(e '(istle is un+lear 8 .er(a.s $ne $* t(e 'ealt(y 9ela'areans 8 but in May 1L10, M+#une 'as arrested in Ne' ?$r/ #ity $n +(arges $* %ail *raud- :M+#UNE =IVES 6AI!N NAT IN IN#AS2 =A!9,< t(e Ne' ?$r/ Ti%es (eadline 4ui..ed- A U-S- P$stal Ins.e+t$r s.ent si5 'ee/s in Peru :trying t$ l$+ate t(e buried treasure $* t(e In+as,< but :*ailed in (is 4uest,< t(e @as(ingt$n P$st re.$rted- :T(e nati"es t$ld (i% t(ey (ad ne"er /n$'n $* any g$ld in t(e "i+inity-< A year later, M+#une 'as +$n"i+ted $* %ail *raud and senten+ed t$ *$ur years in a *ederal .enitentiaryN a +$n"i+ted +$1de*endant dr$..ed dead $* a (eart atta+/ at (is senten+ingA si%ilar but %$re .lebeian ($a5 lured a +$u.le $* (undred A%eri+an .r$s.e+t$rs t$ 6$li"ia in early 1L12, '(en a %an using t(e .en na%e :;ergus$n< released a b$gus letter t$ t(e .ress b$asting $* :en$r%$usly ri+( g$ld dis+$"eries< al$ng t(e Ti.uani Ri"er- Ane ne's re.$rt said t(e letter 'riter 'as a =er%an, but an$t(er said (e 'as :an itinerant A%eri+an %iner, '($ .re"i$usly (ad '$r/ed in Alas/a-< S$%e 200 A%eri+ans ans'ered *$rtune2s +all a++$rding t$ t(e U-S- %inister in !a Pa)- T(e =er%an, a :*ugiti"e *r$% >usti+e< /n$'n t$ l$+al aut($rities, $'ned .r$.erty $n t(e Ti.uani and (e 'as eager t$ :b$$% t(e land-< Alt($ug( t(ere 'as g$ld in t(e Ti.uani, t(e %inister said t(at t(e :di**i+ulties are su+( t(at $nly large enter.rises and +a.ital +an (andle t(e .r$.$siti$ns su++ess*ully-< 6y Ouly 1L12, *e'er t(an 20 A%eri+an .r$s.e+t$rs 'ere still .anning in 6$li"iaMa+%illan2s, a .$.ular %aga)ine $* t(e era, 'arned its readers t(at :S$ut( A%eri+an treasures (a"e, in *a+t, a t($r$ug(ly bad na%e, and in"est$rs s($uld *ig(t "ery s(y

indeed $* s(ares in any $* t(e nu%er$us +$%.anies *$r%ed t$ e%.ty sa+red la/es $r sear+( t(e re+esses $* t(e Andes *$r Ata(ual.a2s (idden g$ld-< Regardless, *$rtune (unters +a%e and 'ent, $*ten 'it( in"est$rs in t$'- In Ouly 17LP, #a.tain A-=- &at*ield 'as $ut*itting (is "essel !an+ing in San ;ran+is+$, en r$ute t$ Peru t$ (unt *$r :t(e treasure ($uses $* t(e In+as,< .er t(e #(i+ag$ Tribune:#a.tain &at*ield said t(at t(e e5.editi$n '$uld .r$bably +$nsist $* 000 %en, but (e re*used t$ gi"e t(e na%es $* t(e leaders in t(e s+(e%e, as neg$tiati$ns (ad n$t yet been +$%.leted- &e saidM KAll t(at I a% at liberty t$ say in regard t$ t(is %atter is t(at t(e %en '($ (a"e been neg$tiating 'it( %e are 'ell /n$'n +a.italists $* San ;ran+is+$, '($ are res.$nsible in e"ery 'ay-2< T(e .lan 'as t$ an+($r t(e !an+ing $** t(e Peru"ian +$astM :Using t(e "essel as (ead4uarters and a su..ly de.$t, .arties 'ill be sent t$ %ineral regi$ns t$ l$+ate g$$d .r$.erties-< T(e *ate $* &at*ield2s e5.editi$n is un/n$'nN$t all 'as g$ld in t(e Andes- A :=ree/ ta"ern /ee.er na%ed Qala*at$"i+(< *$und a ri+( de.$sit $* e%eralds :$* t(e (ig(est 4uality,< a++$rding t$ t(e !$s Angeles Ti%esT(e de.$sit, *$und near near A+$%ay$, Peru, in 1L12, 'as des+ribed, in t(e su.erlati"es $bligat$ry t$ su+( st$ries, as :$ne $* t(e %$st i%.$rtant e"er %ade in t(e '$rld-< An t(e s($res $* !a/e Titi+a+a near t(e :#ity $* #(ililaya, - - - n$t *ar 'est $* !a Pa), $n+e a great +ity $* t(e In+as,< a gr$u. $* A%eri+an and Eur$.ean engineers un+$"ered :a .$rti$n< $* t(e l$st treasure $* t(e In+as, again .er t(e !$s Angeles Ti%esUn+$"ered in 1L0R, t(is "ast tr$"e, :g$ld, sil"er, and .re+i$us st$nes< '$rt( B1R %illi$n (ad been buried in 1P70 and (unted e"er sin+e by :ad"enturers *r$% e"ery +i"ili)ed nati$n $n t(e gl$be-< T(e Ti%es arti+le det$ured int$ a .$tted (ist$ry $* t(e In+as, 4u$ting e5.erts as suggesting t(at t(e rulers $* t(e Andes 'ere +ulturally lin/ed t$ t(e :KEgy.tians and Syrians2<$r t$ &$%er2s Iliu%, '(i+( is t$ say Tr$y, $r t(at t(e :Kgiganti+ ar+(ite+ture $* Peru .$ints t$ t(e #y+l$.ian *a%ily, t(e *$unders $* t(e Te%.le $* 6abel, and $* t(e Egy.tian Pyra%ids-2< T(e 1P70 burial date *$r t(e In+a treasure 'as e5.lained as *$ll$'sM :T(e SS.anis(T +$n4uer$rs ruled 'it( a (ea"y (and, '(en an Indian u.rising $++urred, and nu%er$us bands surr$unded t(e #ity $* !a Pa)- T(e re"$luti$n s.read, and t(e Indians a"enged t(e 'r$ngs '(i+( (ad been d$ne t$ t(e% *r$% t(e beginning $* t(e S.anis( in"asi$nT(ey ransa+/ed t(e #ity $* !a Pa), ta/ing all t(e re%aining s.lend$r $* t(e In+as as 'ell as t(e treasure *$und in $t(er .arts $* t(e +$untry- All $* t(is 'as ta/en t$ t(e +a%. $* t(e re"$luti$nists-< @(ile t(e rebels %ar+(ed $n #u)+$, t(e treasure 'as buried bet'een !a Pa) and !a/e Titi+a+a- A*ter t(e rebels2 de*eat, t(e e5a+t l$+ati$n $* t(e treasure 'as l$st t$ %e%$ryAlt($ug( !a Pa) 'as ne"er an In+a +ity, great $r $t(er'ise 8 it 'asn2t e"en *$unded until 10R7, by t(e S.aniards 8 t(ere 'as an u.rising $* Indians and %esti)$s in 1P70, t(e TU.a+ A%aru rebelli$n, '(i+( +$n"ulsed t(e 6$li"ian and s$ut(ern Peru"ian (ig(lands *$r %$re t(an a year- T(e #(ililaya treasure tale, ($'e"er, (as t(e

+(r$n$l$gy ba+/'ards- #u)+$ 'as .ut t$ siege during t(e initial .(ase, but t(e S.aniards rallied and TU.a+ A%aru 'as +a.tured- T($ug( ne"er ransa+/ed, !a Pa) 'as under siege *$r se"eral %$nt(s in late 1P71 be*$re +$l$nial tr$$.s *r$% 6uen$s Aires +a%e t$ t(e +ity2s res+ueA++$rding t$ t(e Ti%es, a Eur$.ean syndi+ate (ad (ired a gr$u. $* .r$s.e+t$rs '($ began t(e sear+( in Pun$ and '$r/ed t(eir 'ay ar$und Titi+a+a until, near #(ililaya, t(ey stru+/ g$ld- T(ere is n$ +$%%unity na%ed #(ililaya in 6$li"ia, but 'est $* !a Pa), near t(e la/e, are t'$ Indian settle%ents, #(i+(ilaya and #a+(ilaya eit(er $* '(i+( %ig(t be t(e site re*erred t$- Ane $* t(e .r$s.e+t$rs2 Indian guides re.$rted t(e *ind t$ t(e aut($rities in !a Pa) and t(e treasure 4uest (ad been s(ut d$'n by t(e g$"ern%entS$ ended t(is .arti+ular install%ent $* t(e (unt *$r t(e l$st treasure $* t(e In+as, assu%ing it e"er (a..ened t$ begin 'it(In+an tr$"es 'ere eru.ting in 1L0R- A++$rding t$ a 'ire ser"i+e re.$rt, a tea% $* 6ritis( and A%eri+an engineers stu%bled u.$n a treasure :$* t(e .urest g$ld< '$rt( B16 %illi$n at #(ayaltaya, 6$li"ia, and e5.e+ted t(at BG0 %illi$n %$re 'as :a'aiting a dis+$"er-< T(ere is n$ .la+e na%ed #(ayaltaya, but .er(a.s it 'as t(e %$untain #(a+altaya, t(e site $* 6$li"ia2s $nly s/i run, t(e (ig(est in t(e '$rldT(e g$ld (ad been +$lle+ted by t(e Indians, t(e st$ry said, :t$ be .aid $"er t$ t(e S.aniards as a rans$% *$r t(e liberati$n $* E%.er$r Ata(ual.a but t(e %$ney 'as re*used by t(e S.aniards, '($ /illed t(e Peru"ian e%.er$r, and t(e treasure re%ained (idden-< T(e engineers *$und t(e g$ld by a++ident '(ile dri"ing sur"ey sta/esT'$ years later, in 1L06, +a%e :6uried Treasures $* t(e In+as,< a st$ry in t(e Ne' ?$r/ Ti%es, indi+ating t(at %aybe t(e In+an treasure 'as n$t $n t(e s($res $* !a/e Titi+a+a, but in t(e la/e itsel*M :T(e la/e, it is belie"ed, '$uld, i* dredged, yield u. t($usands $* Sg$ld and sil"er i%agesT and si%ilar .re+i$us g$ld arti+les t(r$'n in St(e la/eT, it is alleged, b$t( as a sa+ri*i+e and t$ .re"ent t(e% *r$% *alling int$ t(e (ands $* Pi)arr$2s band-< T(e la/e 'as n$t dredged-

&ira% 6ing(a% C#li+/ I%age t$ (ear P$d+ast Inter"ie' 'it( aut($r 9aniel 6u+/M F#redit '(ere +redit is due in &ira% 6ing(a%2s s+ienti*i+ dis+$"ery $* Ma+(u Pi++(uFD &ira% 6ing(a%, '($ +a%e t$ Peru in t(e 1L10s t$ (unt *$r l$st +ities, g$t snared by t(e treasure1$*1t(e1In+as legend- In 1L10, during 6ing(a%2s t(ird and *inal e5.editi$n t$ Ma+(u Pi++(u and nearby ruins, l$+al $**i+ials +a%e t$ belie"e (e 'as s%uggling In+a g$ld *r$% (is e5+a"ati$ns $ut $* t(e +$untry- :6ing(a% learned 'it( a%a)e%ent,< Al*red 6ing(a% 'r$te in (is bi$gra.(y $* (is *at(er, P$rtrait $* an E5.l$rer, t(at a #u)4ueH$ ne's.a.er edit$r (ad .ublis(ed an arti+le :re.$rting ru%$rs $* t(e e5.$rt $* g$ld by 'ay $* 6$li"ia- #$ntr$lling (is anger, S6ing(a%T denied t(at (e (ad e5.$rted anyt(ing, %u+( less g$ld, and $**ered t$ $.en any $* t(e b$5es< *$r ins.e+ti$n- A Peru"ian delegati$n sent t$ !a Pa) t$ in"estigate t(e %atter *$und n$t(ing, and 6ing(a% (i%sel* $btained an a**ida"it *r$% t(e .$rt aut($rities in Pun$ attesting t(at (e (ad s(i..ed n$t(ing giltT(e Oesuits st$$d in *$r t(e In+as in t(e Sa+a%baya legend, '(i+( (as been attra+ting arg$nauts *$r %$re t(an a +entury- As t(e 'ell1'$rn tale g$es, '(en t(e Oesuits 'ere e5.elled *r$% S$ut( A%eri+a in t(e 1P60s, t(e +$ntingent at t(e Sa+a%baya %issi$n, at t(e >un+ti$n A.$.aya and Q(atu ri"ers in 6$li"ia, near t(e b$rder bet'een t(e !a Pa) and #$+(aba%ba de.art%ents, $rdered l$+al Indians t$ +$nstru+t an elab$rate %ulti1 al+$"ed +a"e in '(i+( 'as (idden a "ast treasure, '$rt( a billi$n d$llars t$day- T(e Indians, '($ nu%bered *r$% (al* a d$)en t$ se"eral (undred in t(e "ari$us a++$unts, 'ere t(en %urdered by t(e Oesuits and buried in t(e +a"e, '(i+( 'as sealed- U.$n t(e Oesuits2 return t$ R$%e, t(ey 'ere i%.ris$ned and all but $ne e5e+utedAs lu+/ '$uld (a"e it, t(e sur"i"ing Oesuit returned t$ 6$li"ia, and (ad a daug(ter by (is %istress- T(e daug(ter later t$$/ u. 'it( an Englis(%an and s.illed t(e Sa+a%baya se+ret t$ (i%- A '$%an is a +$nstant in st$ries $* ($' t(e se+ret 'as di"ulged-

A su++essi$n $* Eur$.eans *ell *$r t(e Sa+a%baya yarn- T(e *irst 'as #e+il &erbert Pr$dgers, a si51*$$t tall, 2601 .$und Englis(%an '($ (ad *$ug(t in t(e 6$er @ar, ra+ed ($rses in Peru, and ta..ed rubber in 6$li"ia- &e +lai%ed t$ (a"e been gi"en a d$+u%ent ab$ut t(e treasure by n$ne $t(er t(an t(e daug(ter $* t(e .resident $* Peru- T(e treasure, (is d$+u%ent said, +$nsisted $* BL0,000 in sil"er, 6P :(ea.s $* g$ld,< and g$ld $rna%ents ad$rned 'it( dia%$nds and $t(er .re+i$us st$nes (idden in a %a)e $* r$$%s, +$%.art%ents, and ($ll$'s b$$by1tra..ed 'it( :en$ug( str$ng .$is$n t$ /ill a regi%ent-< In 1L00, Pr$dgers gat(ered a tr$u.e $* lab$rers and set $** *$r Sa+a%baya- T(e rainy seas$n (alted '$r/, but t(ey returned t(e ne5t year- &is '$r/ers .un+tured t(e treasure +a"e2s r$$* but 'ere $"er+$%e by :a "ery .$'er*ul s%ell-< A ne' +re' +a%e in and t(ey 'ere als$ stru+/ d$'n by t$5i+ "a.$rs, as 'as Pr$dgers, '($ said (is *ingernails turned blue- &e +alled $** t(e (unt- &e tried t$ return in 1L0P, but neit(er +$uld attra+t in"est$rs n$r 'illing lab$rersEnglis( e5.l$rer Per+y &arris$n ;a'+ett (eard ab$ut t(e treasure a *e' years later *r$% @illia% Tredinni+/, a #$rnis(%an '($ said t(at (e (ad been in a .artners(i. 'it( des+endants $* t(e sur"i"ing Oesuit- CS$%e years earlier Tredinni+/ (ad been >ailed in 6$li"ia *$r a r$bbery s$%e attribute t$ 6ut+( #assidy and t(e Sundan+e Qid-D ;a'+ett 'ent t$ Sa+a%baya *$r a l$$/1see- :My $.ini$n is,< ;a'+ett later 'r$te, :i* a treasure really e5ists t(ere, t(en atte%.ts t$ *ind it (a"e n$t been +arried $ut "ery intelligently-<

&e t($ug(t t(at i* t(e +lues 'ere *$ll$'ed, it '$uld be a :si%.le %atter< t(e settled t(e 4uesti$n $n+e and *$r all- Si%.li+ity n$t'it(standing, (e didn2t bite- :It didn2t K*eel2 as t($ug( t(e treasure 'ere buried t(ere,< (e 'r$te, :and I a% in+lined t$ gi"e s$%e 'eig(t t$ %y i%.ressi$ns-< ;a'+ett2s instin+ts *ailed (i% a *e' years later '(en (e disa..eared in t(e Mat$ =r$ss$ '(ile sear+(ing *$r :V,< a l$st +ity $* :+l$t(ed nati"es $* Eur$.ean a..earan+e-< 6ut t(e (unt *$r Sa+a%baya2s *abled *$rtune 'as n$t $"er- In t(e 1L20s, Pr$dgers .assed (is d$+u%ents t$ Edgar Sanders, a Russian1b$rn S'iss +iti)en li"ing in England- A*ter a +$u.le e5.l$rat$ry "isits t$ 6$li"ia, Sanders returned t$ England, ann$un+ing t(at (e (ad e5+a"ated a :%an1%ade +a"e,< inside $* '(i+( (e (ad *$und a +ru+i*i5 and a .ar+(%ent- T(e an+ient d$+u%ent, 'ritten in S.anis(, 'arnedM :?$u '($ rea+( t(is .la+e 'it(dra'W T(is s.$t is dedi+ated t$ =$d Al%ig(ty and $ne '($ dares enter, a d$l$r$us deat( in t(is '$rld and eternal +$nde%nati$n in t(e '$rld (e g$es t$-< Eternal da%nati$n did n$t deter Sanders *r$% $**ering B120,000 in st$+/ in t(e Sa+a%baya E5.l$rati$n #$%.any, .r$%ising a (ea"enly R7,000 .er+ent return t$ in"est$rs- T(e st$+/ s$ld 4ui+/ly, and in 1L27 Sanders *$und (i%sel* ba+/ in 6$li"ia 'it( a +re' $* 20 and a +ara"an $* tru+/s l$aded 'it( t$ns $* gear 8 %ining e4ui.%ent, su+ti$n .u%.s, +$%.ress$rs, gas %as/s C*$r t(e *abled t$5i+ "a.$rsD, *$$d, and an array $* 'ea.$nry- A*ter se"eral %$nt(s $* *ruitless digging, t(e rainy seas$n s(ut d$'n t(e .r$>e+tSa+a%baya lay undisturbed until t(e 1L60s, '(en t'$ Englis(%en, Mar/ &$'ell and T$ny M$rris$n, +a%e +alling 'it( :*ield dist$rti$n l$+ating e4ui.%ent,< essentially a %etal dete+t$r +a.able $* .enetrating at least 20 *eet $* s$il $r r$+/- &$'ell and M$rris$n (auled t(eir %etal dete+t$r t$ a nu%ber $* l$+ati$ns at t(e Sa+a%baya >un+ti$n, but t(e $nly %etal t(ey *$und 'as a tra.e)$idal +$..er .late, .$ssibly a reli+ $* t(e Sanders e5.editi$n- T(e rains +a%e, and &$'ell and M$rris$n 'ent ($%eRea+(ed at (is ($%e in England se"eral years ag$, M$rris$n 'as still ($.e*ul- &e said by e%ail t(at :t(ere are e5+ellent but still un.r$"en reas$ns *$r t(e e5isten+e $* a treasure,< t($ug( (e sur%ised t(at it :+$uld be in any $ne $* t(irty .la+es-< &$'ell and M$rris$n2s guide, Ouan Ar$ya, +a%e as +l$se as any$ne t$ de+i.(ering t(e Sa+a%baya %ystery- As &$'ell re+$unts it in Ste.s t$ ;$rtune, M$rris$n2s and (is b$$/ ab$ut t(eir ad"entures, (e as/ed Ar$yaM :Ouan - - - '(y (as n$ $ne e"er *$und t(e treasure, ?$u li"e (ere- ?$u %ust (a"e (eard st$ries, and (a"e y$ur $'n ideas-< :It2s a gring$ treasure,< Ar$ya saidFURTHER READIN ! Alfred Bingham, Portrait of an Explorer (1989); Daniel Buck, !ale" of #litter or Du"t,$ Am%rica", &a'()une *+++; ,ol- P-.- /a0cett, 1o"t !rail", 1o"t ,itie" (1923); &ark .o0ell and !on' &orri"on, 4tep" to a /ortune (1956); 4tratford D- )oll', !he !rea"ure !ale (1937) and 4outh American Ad8enture" (n-d-); Alicia 98er:eck, 1i8ing

.igh (1932); ,-.- Prodger", Ad8enture" in Boli8ia (19**); and )ame" 4tead, !rea"ure !rek (1935)Daniel Buck lives in Washington, DC !e "as a #eace Corps $olunteer in #uno, %&'()%&'*