in the cinnamon country not far from cuzco lived the muscas, a rich and powerful nation who were less civilized than the children of the sun and were so quarrelsome that they constantly disputed among themselves. finally the zipa, or king, died and then there was great danger of war breaking out between the different factions as to who should be the new ruler.
at last the oldest son of the dead zipa came to cuzco to ask the golden hearted to decide who should inherit the kingdom.
"this is a matter of grave moment," said he, "and i must warn you that my time of ruling the children of the sun is near an end. soon must i go to build the temple of guatavita, the good life, and then must i leave this part of the world for another clime where much work awaits me." 72
"come to us and build the temple of good life, and i promise you that both i and my brave muscas shall be the guardians of your teachings. you shall be a demi-god among us."
"i have no wish to be anything more than an elder brother to you and your people," replied the golden hearted. "i am come from my home to serve humanity and must go with you if you need me—not because you wish to honor me."
the son of the zipa then offered him many presents of gold, rich cloth, and precious stones, but the golden hearted refused to accept any of them. finally the young man said:
"i am greatly disappointed, good prince, and have only this piece of bark and a strange kind of fruit to offer you. the bark is royal in my country because it cures the hated fever and is worthy your best confidence. as to the fruit, taste it for yourself."
to his surprise the golden hearted and the wise men were much pleased with the bark which we know to-day as peruvian and from which quinine is made, and the pineapple tastes as sweet to us as it did to the golden hearted.
the son of the zipa and his nobles conducted the wise men and the golden hearted over one elevated table-land after another until they came to one of the highest lakes in the world, where people can live, and its name is gautavita.
"these terraced mountain sides show that your example has been well profited by the children 73 of the sun," said the son of the zipa, as they trudged along the royal roadway leading from cuzco to the cinnamon country. "the instruction of the wise men in building canals and aqueducts has turned this into a garden spot even though nature intended it to be barren."
the golden hearted thought this would be a good opportunity to let his new friend know that he did not approve of war, and that the adherents of the good law, must not fight among themselves, so he said gently:
"all that you see before you is the working out of a fixed principle. universal kindness is the secret of our success. treat the earth gently and with consideration and she blesses you seven fold. dig into her bosom and she yields her choicest treasures, and the beasts and birds respond to your affectionate touch. the heart of the man is the same, my friend. the obedience and allegiance of your subjects must come from the heart. if when i go among them they tell me they wish you to be their zipa then will i go to your opponent and persuade him to relinquish his claim in your favor."
"and if he does not consent—"
"then must you yield to him peaceably. i will not allow any blood shed on either side."
the son of the zipa knew by the firm tone of the golden hearted that he meant what he said and his face turned a bright red, because he thought his own selfish purpose was known to his guest. down in his heart he was planning to go 74 into the capital city with a grand flourish and pretend that the children of the sun had sent their ruler and wise men to help him capture the throne. now he knew very well he would not dare do anything of the kind.
"but you do not know my people, good prince," he said. "they will never obey a zipa they do not fear."
"i am not familiar with the faces of your subjects, but i know the heart of all mankind, and whether he be white or black, young or old, the child of fortune or the opposite, he is amenable to the law of love. win his affection and he will serve you as faithfully and obediently as a dog."
"i am afraid my turbulent warriors would not respect such a policy," replied the son of the zipa, shaking his head.
"remember in dealing with either man or animal that fear degrades while love ennobles."
by this time they were coming in sight of the calm peaceful waters of the lake stretched out like a sheet of glass before them.
"water," said the golden hearted, "is like a pure mind—limpid and clear. it permits us to look into its depths for hidden treasures, or to see our own image reflected back from its surface. let your heart and mind be such a mirror, and trust your people to make the right selection."
with this he laid his hand upon the shoulder of his young companion and as their eyes met, the son of the zipa felt certain that he had a loyal and 75 disinterested friend who would help him in the right way.
the next morning the prince and the wise men called the nobles and warriors together, and listened patiently to all they had to say for and against the two candidates. as he came into the audience chamber the strange one scowled and frowned at the visitors, but to his surprise the golden hearted took his hand and said:
"we have made a long, wearisome journey, my brother, in order to serve your own and your state's best interest. speak freely that we may be able to judge fairly between the two."
"there is nothing to tell that my warriors do not already know," was the curt reply. "i am able to crush opposition and to command respect and obedience. i do not need your assistance, sir."
for a moment there was a look of pain on the face of the golden hearted. then he said gently:
"you, more than any one else need help, because you are unable to govern yourself much less a rich and prosperous nation."
when it became known that the representatives of the children of the sun would not compel the people to accept a zipa they did not like, they came out of their houses where they had been hidden all day for fear of violence, and marched up and down the streets playing on shell trumpets, gongs and kettle drums, and shouting the name of the oldest son of the zipa who was in due time crowned as the rightful heir to the throne. 76
his first official act was to pierce the upper part of the ear of his subjects and put in gold wheels of fine filigree work, as large around as an orange. as he did so he said to each one:
"swear by him who gives and sustains life in the universe, that you will faithfully keep the good law brought to us from the sea, by bochica, our deliverer."
this was the name the zipa gave the golden hearted, and as each man passed by him he gave them a little cake made of corn meal, and continued:
"to-morrow our good friends leave us for many days to come, but bochica will return again, and to show him that we will do his bidding willingly let us take balsas or rafts with sails and go out on the lake where he may see the intent of our minds reflected in the water. put wreaths of many colored flowers on the balsas, and carry with you gold and emeralds which we will cast into the lake in token of our pledge to him."
for hundreds of years afterwards, the mucas and their descendants kept this holiday as an anniversary of the departure of the prince and the wise men. they knew that he was called the golden hearted in the happy island, and every year they selected a young priest from the temple of gautavita, to impersonate him. after his bath the priest smeared himself all over with a fragrant oil, and then his attendants blew gold dust through reeds onto his body until he looked like a solid 77 statue. they put him in the center of the flower-laden raft, and with chants and hymns rowed out on the lake and threw emeralds and gold dust into it. the young men wore white shirts with a red cross on the breast, and tied a red sash around their waists. on their heads were crowns of flowers and evergreen leaves to show that their virtues would continue as long as they lived, and that they were followers of the teachings of the golden hearted. they were always hoping and praying for his return.
we shall hear more of this ceremony and what came of it when we read the story of the gilded man.
