SOURCE: Sturcken, H. Tracy. “Raleigh and El Dorado of Guiana.” The Americas 19, No. 8 (August, 1967): 15-21.

In the following essay, Sturcken describes how Walter Raleigh's failure to find El Dorado led to his execution in 1618.

The Empyre of Guiana is directly east from Peru towards the sea … and it hath more abundance of Golde then any part of Peru, and as many or more great Cities than euer Peru had when it florished most … I haue beene assured by such of the Spanyardes as haue seene Manoa the emperiall Citie of Guiana, which the Spanyardes call el Dorado, that for the greatnes, for the riches, and for the excellent seate, it farre exceedeth any of the world, at least of so much of the world as is knowen to the Spanish nation: it is founded vpon a lake of salt water of 200 leagues long like vnto mare caspiū. And...