292 TOUR TO CIBELDA. 



From this point the path altogether ceased, and 

 it was utterly incomprehensible to me how our guide 

 could find his way in the splendid primeval forest 

 through which we had now to wend. The formation 

 of the ground in the next part of the way was very 

 peculiar. There were imposing undulating elevations 

 with a bend from east to west, perhaps seven hundred 

 feet high, which we had repeatedly to cross. Their 

 southern 'slopes were adorned with splendid trees, 

 mostly oak, chestnut, and walnut, whose summits formed 

 so perfect a roof that the plague of lianas and other 

 creeping plants was precluded. The trees were of 

 enormous dimensions. It is probable that human hand 

 had never influenced the natural course of their growth ; 

 and accordingly old withered giants stood beside the 

 verdant and flourishing, whilst trees of a younger 

 generation overshadowed the mighty trunks lying on 

 the ground, doubtless felled by storms. It often cost 

 a good deal of trouble to evade such a dead tree 

 barring the way, for summit and root formed at their 

 ends effective abatis. Many of these prostrate trees 

 were so thick that a mounted rider was only just 

 able to see beyond them. Now and again they were 

 luckily lying in such a position, that we could pass 

 under them. 



An altogether different picture w r as presented to 

 us, when we had crossed the summit of such a ridge, 

 and had to come down again on its northern slope. 

 Here the sun had not had the power to dry the ground. 

 The whole slope was marshy in spite of its steepness, 



