A PARADISE ^HOSPITABLE RECEPTION. 187 



arid pleasure experienced by us on that memorable occasion ^ 

 or to give an idea of the enchanting panoramic scene that all 

 at once opened on our view. Suffice it to say that, instead 

 of the eternal jungles, where every moment we were in dan- 

 ger of being dragged out of our saddles by the merciless 

 thorns, the landscape now presented an apparently bound- 

 less field of yellow corn, dotted with numerous peaceful home- 

 steads, and bathed in the soft light of a declining tropical 

 sun. Here and there, moreover, arose gigantic, wide-spread- 

 ing, and dark-foliaged timber and fruit trees, while innumer- 

 able fan-like palms, either singly or in groups, completed the 

 picture. To us it was a perfect elysium, and well rewarded 

 us for every former toil and disappointment. My friend, 

 who had traveled far and wide, confessed he had never seen 

 any thing that could be compared to it. Often since have I 

 conjured up to my imagination this scene, and have thought 

 it might not inaptly be compared to stepping out of a hot, 

 white, and shadowless road into a park fresh with verdure, 

 and cool with the umbrage cast down by groups of reverend 

 trees. 



The first dwelling that lay in our path was that of old 

 Naitjo, one of the chief men of our trading caravan, who, 

 after having feasted us on such fare as the country produced 

 (among which was a dish of hot dough steeped in melted 

 butter), conducted us over his extensive establishment, com- 

 prising his harem, his children, granaries, and so forth. Tim- 

 bo was in ecstasies with the country and its hospitable in- 

 habitants, and declared that it was as like as two peas to 

 his own native land. 



Another hour's travel brought us to the residence of our 

 guide Chikor'onkombe, where we remained two nights and a 

 day to rest our weary animals. Poor creatures ! they had 

 had no water for two entire days, and the consequence was 

 that during the first night they broke out of the in closures 

 and strayed far away in search of it. 



