Ch. IV.] ROAD THROUGH THE FOREST. 50 



reigns in the soil, perennial summer in the air, and 

 vegetation luxuriates in ceaseless activity and verdure all 



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the year round. Unknown are the autumn tint?, the 

 bright browns and yellows of English woods, much less 

 the crimsons, purples, and yellows of Canada, where the 

 dying foliage rivals, nay, excels the expiring dolphin in. 

 splendour. Unknown the cold sleep of winter ; unknown 

 the lovely awakening of vegetation at the first gentle 

 touch of spring. A ceaseless round of ever- active life 

 weaves the forest scenery of the tropics into one mono- 

 tonous whole, of which the component parts exhibit in 

 detail untold variety and .beauty. 



To the genial influence of ever-present moisture and 

 heat we must ascribe the infinite variety of the trees of 

 these forests. They do not grow in clusters or masses of 

 single species, like our oaks, beeches, and firs, but every 

 tree is different from its neighbour, and they crowd upon 

 each other in unsocial rivalry, each trying to overtop the 

 other. Therefore we see the great straight trunks rising 

 a hundred feet without a branch, and carrying their domes 

 of foliage directly up to where the balmy breezes blow 

 and the sun's rays quicken. Lianas hurry up to the 

 light and sunshine, and innumerable epiphytes perch 

 themselves high upon the branches. 



The road through the forest was very bad, the mud 



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deep and tenacious, the hills steep and slippery, and the 

 mules had to struggle and plunge along through from 

 two to three feet of sticky clay. One part, named the 

 Nispral, was especially steep and difficult to descend, the 

 road being worn into great ruts. TV~e crossed the ranges 

 and brooks nearly at right angles, and were always as- 

 cending or descending. About two we reached a 



