SCENE 4.
The River Nile and Adjacent Swanips.
Persons—Rek-Mara and Candidates.
Candidates enter river; crocodiles, asps, spiders, etc.
SCENE 5.
Cavern of the Asp of Thothmes.
Persons— Rek-Mara and Candidates.
Rek-Mara(to candidates after leaving the swamps)—We now approach the sacred Cavern of the Asp of Thothmes, where incense burns upon the altar both day and night. Egyptians, I desire particularly to impress it upon your minds that we have arrived at the most dangerous portion of our journey. Each of us must enter the sacred Cavern of the Asp of Thothmes reverently, but determinedly, for the demons and evil spirits which inhabit this cavern continually endeavor to prevent the passage of the upright and true Egyptian seeking to fulfill the Judgment of Amenti, and thus escape that dreadful monster Am-mit, the Eater-of-the-Dead. Each of you will now enter the sacred Cavern and press forward. No matter what resistance may be offered you, press forward, overcome the opposers, and pursue your journey.
Candidates are caused to enter, singly, at each end of the cavern; spanker, etc. Vapor of CS2 is continually blown into tunnel.
After exit from cavern, forward a few steps, and Rek-Mara says:
Rek-Mara— Egyptians, here comes a band of bloody Nomes! Let us flee for our lives!
Attacked by band of Nomes. and all but a previously selected candidate are made prisoners and are conducted before Old Man Tcnestcheset, the Chief of the Nomes.
Rek-Mara thus addresses the selected candidate:
