Lake Guatavita

Era costumbre entre estos naturales, que el que habia de ser sucesor i heredero del señorío o cacicazgo de su tio, a quien heredaba, habia de ayunar seis años, metido en una cueva que tenian dedicada i señalada para esto, i que en todo este tiempo no habia de tener parte con mujeres, ni comer carne, sal ni ají, i otras cosas que les vedaban; i entre ellas que, durante el ayuno, no habian de ver el sol; solo de noche tenian licencia para salir de la cueva, i ver la luna i estrellas, i recojerse ántes que el sol los viese; i cumplido de este ayuno i ceremonias se metian en posesion del cacicazgo o señorío, i la primera jornada que habian de hacer, era ir a la gran laguna de Guatavita a ofrecer i sacrificar al demonio, que tenian por su dios i señor.

Among these natives, the man who was to inherit his uncle's lordship, or chiefdom, had to fast for six years. He was shut in a cave set apart for this purpose. In all that time he could not be with women, or eat meat, salt, or chili peppers, or certain other forbidden things. Among the rules was that during the fast they must not see the sun. Only at night were they allowed to leave the cave and see the moon and stars, and they had to go back in before the sun could see them. When the fast and ceremonies were complete, they took possession of the chiefdom or lordship. The first journey they had to make was to the great lake of Guatavita, to make offerings and sacrifice to the devil, whom they held to be their god and lord.