7^ EFFECT OF THE SCENERY. 



a gleam of light glancing across the valley, 

 which had not been well noted before, and di- 

 ligently treasured in the memory. I looked 

 upon it as I should look upon an exquisite but 

 familiar picture — with pleasure, but without 

 emotion. 



There is something appalling in the vastness 

 of a solitude like this. I had parted from my 

 companions, and was apparently the only living 

 being in the wilderness around me. Almost 

 unconsciously I reloaded my gun ; and then, 

 stepping cautiously along the narrow ridge of 

 the descent, glided silently into the valley, as 

 if afraid to disturb the genius of the place. It 

 was a positive comfort to hear, now and then, the 

 hollow tread of the men as they passed rapidly 

 through the thicket which screened them from 

 sight ; and when the white tent was pitched, and 

 the curling smoke rose through the dense green 

 of the forest, it seemed as if the spell of the de- 

 sert was broken, and the whole landscape was 

 suddenly animated into life and cheerfulness. 



July 23d. — The last loads were brought 

 down to the water's edge, and, as soon as they 

 were safely deposited, the men, exhausted with 

 fatigue, threw themselves on the ground, and 

 remained almost motionless for upwards of an 

 hour. After this the canoe was gummed, and 

 we embarked near some bateaux belonging to 



