_Advance of Indian Warriors whose banners are the blood-stained shirts of Spaniards slain in battle_. _Their musicians sound shells and beat drums_. COMAGRE _appears at a little distance_. _His dress is a white cotton robe fantastically embroidered_, _confined at the waist with a belt of gold_, _bearing a dagger_; _which as well as his arms_, _is studded with precious stones_. _His limbs otherwise naked_, _similarly encircled_. _On his head a crown consisting of a band of gold curiously wrought_, _with points on which were enormous pearls_, _and studded with emeralds_, _and other stones of lustre_. _This over a cap of scarlet_. _From this crown he was called by the Spaniards_ “_Bonete d’ Oro_” “_Gold Cap_.” _He prostrates himself on the ground thus to await_ DRAKE. DRAKE (_astonished_). Haste, Chiruca! your father has fallen! CHIRUCA. No! this is our ceremony of welcome to an honoured guest. He thus shows his devotion to you. It is for you to advance and raise him up. (DRAKE _advances and raises the_ CACIQUE, _who then warmly embraces him_.) COMAGRE (_embracing_ DRAKE). Welcome, welcome, noble Englishman! The terror of your great name—your matchless exploits, have struck our foes with panic. We hail you as a deliverer. DRAKE. Thanks! Great Comagre, I have heard of your valorous deeds also. COMAGRE (_holding him by the arm_, _leads him towards the Palace_). Come! Come! (_Exeunt into the Palace_.) _Scene changes_. SCENE VII.—INTERIOR OF THE PALACE. _The_ CACIQUE’S _family ranged on a dais_. _The women are clothed with a short white cotton petticoat round their middle_, _elaborately embroidered_, _their limbs __naked save for the bands or circles of gold_. _Their heads decorated with chaplets of flowers and jewels_, _their necks with ropes of enormous pearls_. _Rings of gold and jewels in their noses and ears_. COMAGRE. I will show you over my Palace, noble Drake, whilst a repast is being prepared for you. (_Exeunt_ DRAKE _and_ COMAGRE.) _Scene changes_. SCENE VIII.—THE HALL OF THE DEAD. _A retired and sacred part of the building devoted to the purpose_, _richly decorated and stored with masses of gold and silver_. _A long line of mummied dead_, _dressed in robes of cotton_, _elaborately embroidered_, _and covered with jewels_, _are suspended to silver bars_, _and vibrating strangely with the gentle air through the open casements_. _Enter_ COMAGRE _and_ DRAKE, _who_, _startled and amazed at the unexpected scene_, _recoils with awe_. COMAGRE. This, noble Drake, is the Hall of my Ancestors—the sacred mansion of the dead. There they are! (_he points to them_). In hours of sorrow or danger I visit them. Their spirits come from the happy land to sympathise with mine. DRAKE (_much interested_). Are these the real bodies of the dead? How have they been preserved?