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like unto palaces, all the way along. Presently he would come to some open space, in the midst of which there was set up a huge figure of some idol, whereof he saw a great many, all wrought out of the solid gold, and the crowds of natives dressed in the costliest silks and fine cloths, some walking, and some riding on prancing steeds, the harness of which was covered over with gold and jewels, were wonderful to look upon, for the beauty and variety of their apparelling. They seemed, for people of so dark a skin, an exceeding handsome race ;—the women remarkably so, having well disposed bodies and comely countenances; eyes dark and penetrating, and hair very long and black, the which, in many instances, was powdered with gold dust, that did have a marvellous shining effect; the most of them wore gold anklets and armlets, very thick, and some curiously cut and set in with precious stones, and some wore so many plates of the same metal that they kept up a constant jingling as they walked along, from the pieces knocking one against another.

Master Francis was made to halt at a building of wonderful size and stately aspect, story above story, and tower above tower, with figures upon them, all of gold, stretching out over a vast space of ground. As he approached it by one of many wide streets of goodly mansions that led to where it stood, quite apart in an open plot of ground,

he observed divers companies of armed Indians, doubtless soldiers, led by their lords, or caciques, arrayed in most sumptuous fashion, marching with bands of warlike instruments, that made a monstrous clang, some going and some coming awaysome of horse and some of foot; and there being a marvellous high flight of steps all round, to reach the gates of this palace, it was a pretty sight to see the foot soldiers ascending and descending, with their spears glancing in the sun, their feathers waving in the breeze, and their draperies of the very brightest colours, together with the abundance of gold ornaments they wore, looking more beautiful and costly than the most extreme cunning with the pen could describe. Having dismounted, Master Francis had to ascend the steps with his guard, which was a work of some labour, there being a hundred steps to go up; and then passing along a level way of fine polished marble, which was covered with a crowd of Indians, seemingly of all sorts and conditions, going in and out, he entered the palace by one of the many golden gates it had, whereof he was told there were fifty, all of a like splendour and massiveness with the one he now saw, which was indeed the most magnificent thing to see eye of his ever beheld.

Here some of those he was with did have speech with a chief or officer of the guard, who stopped them; and hearing of their business, hurried them

on, himself leading the way, telling them that the king was sitting in council with his wise men, and had given orders that the strangers should immediately on their arrival be brought before them, to be done by as they should think fit. After passing through vast halls and along spacious passages, and up broad flights of steps, meeting with a great crowd of the natives, seeming to be officers, priests, soldiers, and the like, appearing to be intent upon some important business or another, they at last arrived at an ante-room, which was guarded on both sides by rows of Indians, with long spears standing up much higher than themselves, where they waited till some went to announce their arrival to the king; which having been done, after a short delay Master Francis and Padre Bartolomé, uncovered, were allowed to advance into the council chamber.

Upon entering, the first thing which attracted the attention of Master Francis was a splendid throne, supported by figures of leopards, wrought in solid gold, and blazing with all manner of sapphires, carbuncles, emeralds, diamonds, pearls, and divers other precious stones; and on it, upon cushions of embroidered silk, there sat a man of a mild, yet majestic countenance, clothed in robes of the very richest sort, and wearing beside the most costly armlets, anklets, and plates of gold all about him, and rings, and chains, and rare gems, a tiara of the same precious metal, set in with diamonds

and rubies of the very largest and purest kind. Round him, in a semicircle, seated on thrones less elevated, but of almost equal costliness, were the wise men of the council, which seemed to be such as were selected for their great knowledge, for they did appear to be of a wonderful gravity, and were clothed in long robes of white cloth bordered with gold. Padre Bartolomé was desired to prostrate himself immediately upon his entering, which he did with an affectation of great reverence; but Master Francis liked not the behaving with such humility to a mere mortal, and could not be got to do ought save the making of a respectful bow, which it was evident angered many in that assembly, for some did regard him with stern and forbidding glances.

An interpreter being present, who was the chief priest, and was one that had lived with the Spaniards till he was as familiar with their language as with his own, the padre was asked if the other white man, meaning Master Francis, was a Spaniard, many of the Indians having asserted he talked a different tongue, and was of an entirely different nation. Then up spoke the wily jesuit, exceedingly to his com ion's astonishment, and mayhap instigated of the vil to do it, saying, that not only was he a Spaniard, although he spoke a foreign tongue, wanting to pass himself off as of a different country, but that he was the chief counsellor of the governor Don Antonio de Berrio, and

had instigated him to do those cruelties against the Indians of which such loud complaint had been made. At the hearing of this, it was easily seen that the king and all his council were moved to a great wrath. Master Francis was so taken by surprise at the hearing of so atrocious a calumny that he knew not what to say or do; and, by his judges, his confusion was taken as a sign of guilt.

They then examined the padre as to what were "the designs of himself and party in entering the territory of Guiana, and he answered that he was but a man of peace, and merely accompanied the others at their request, to give them such good instruction as they stood in need of; that the command of the party was entrusted to his companion, and that its object was to fall upon the Indians in some village or another, murder them, and take away their gold. At this the assembly were more wrath than at first; and when Master Francis sought to deny what had been so falsely said of the other, they would scarce hear him, and the king, having taken the opinion of his wise men, did speak with great bitterness of the inhuman cruelties of the Spaniards in their inordinate search after gold, and then adjudged Master Francis to be sacrificed to his gods, whilst Padre Bartolomé should be kept close prisoner. When the priest heard this sentence he turned on his companion a look of fiendish exultation, which the other returned only with one of wonder and pity.

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