486 A NATURAL BREAKWATER, [chap. xxi. 



Such are the elements of the scenery, but it is a hopeless 

 attempt to paint the gfeneral effect. Learned naturalists de- 

 scribe these scenes of the tropics by naming a multitude of 

 objects, and mentioning some characteristic feature of each. 

 To a learned traveller this possibly may communicate some 

 definite ideas ; but who else from seeing a plant in a herb- 

 arium can imagine its appearance when growing in its 

 native soil ? Who from seeing choice plants In a hothouse, 

 can magnify some into the dimensions of forest trees, and 

 crowd others into an entangled jungle ? Who when ex- 

 amining in the cabinet of the entomologist the gay exotic 

 butterflies, and singular clcidas, will associate with these 

 lifeless objects, the ceaseless harsh music of the latter, and 

 the lazy flight of the former — the sure accompaniments of 

 the still, glowing noonday of the tropics? It is when the 

 sun has attained its greatest height, that such scenes should 

 be viewed : then the dense splendid foliage of the mango 

 hides the ground with its darkest shade, whilst the upper 

 branches are rendered from the profusion of light of the most 

 brilliant green. In the temperate zones the case is different 

 — the vegetation there is not so dark or so rich, and hence 

 the rays of the declining sun, tinged of a red, purple, or bright 

 yellow colour, add most to the beauties of those climes. 



When quietly walking along the shady pathways, and 

 admiring each successive view, I wished to find language 

 to express my ideas. Epithet after epithet was found too 

 weak to convey to those who have not visited the inter- 

 tropical regions, the sensation of delight which the mind 

 experiences. I have said that the plants in a hothouse 

 fail to communicate a just idea of the vegetation, yet I 

 must recur to it. The land is one great wild, untidy, 

 luxuriant hothouse, made by Nature for herself, but taken 

 possession of by man, who has studded it with gay houses 

 and formal gardens. How great would be the desire In 

 every admirer of nature to behold, if such were possible, 

 the scenery of another planet ! yet to every person in 

 Europe, it may be truly said, that at the distance of only 

 a few degrees from his native soil, the glories of another 

 world are opened to him. In my last walk I stopped again 

 and again to gaze on these beauties, and endeavoured to 

 fix In my mind for ever, an impression which at the time I 

 knew sooner or later must fail. The form of the orange- 

 tree, the cocoa-nut, the palm, the mango, the tree-fern, the 

 banana, will remain clear and separate ; but the thousand 



