216 TIMOR PONIES. 



My visit was made after the encampment had 

 heen finally abandoned, and the thought that a little 

 spot once tenanted by civilized man was about to be 

 yielded to that dreary solitude from which for a 

 while he had rescued it, made the pilgrimage a me- 

 lancholy one. The scene itself was in strict keeping 

 with such thoughts — the rugged and lofty cliffs which 

 frown down upon the valley — the flitting shadows 

 of the watchful eagles soaring far over my head — • 

 and the hoarse murmurs of the tide among the rocky 

 masses on the beach — all heightened the effects of 

 a picture engraven on my memory too deeply for 

 time itself to efface. 



While the men were preparing for embarkation I 

 strolled with Lieut, Lusliington up the valley, a 

 little beyond the late encampment : the Timor 

 ponies were busily engaged upon the fresh grass ; 

 near the banks of a beautiful pool in which we 

 both enjoyed a fresh-water bath, I noticed a small 

 cocoa-nut tree, and some other plants, which he and 

 his companions had benevolently endeavoured to 

 naturalize here : they seemed healthy enough, but I 

 should fear the rank luxuriance of surrounding and 

 indigenous vegetation will render the ultimate well- 

 doing of the strangers exceedingly doubtful. Assisted 

 by our boats the whole party embarked in the early 

 part of the afternoon, and appeared highly delighted 

 to find themselves again on board the schooner. I was 

 much impressed with the emphatic manner in which 

 Lieut. Lushington bid the shore a hearty farewell. 



