290 PICTURESQUE SKETCHES 



were, and unlike the present inhabitants of the dis- 

 trict, were not without resemblance to many species 

 still met with on the earth. 



The interior of the land, of which the surrounding 

 waters were thus peopled, was no less remarkable, 

 and exhibited appearances equally instructive. Troops 

 of monkeys might be seen skipping lightly from 

 branch to branch in the various trees, or heard mow- 

 ing and chattering and howling in the deep recesses 

 of the forest. Of the birds, some clothed in plumage 

 of almost tropical brilliancy, were busy in the forests, 

 while others, such as the vulture, hovered over the 

 spots where death had been busy. Gigantic serpents 

 might have been seen insidiously watching their prey. 

 Other serpents in gaudy dress were darting upon the 

 smaller quadrupeds and birds, and insects glittered 

 brightly in the sun. All these indications of life and 

 activity existed, and that, too, not far distant from 

 the spots on which are placed the two most import- 

 ant cities in the world. But this happened not only 

 before our island was visited by its earliest human 

 discoverer, but long before man had been introduced 

 on the earth. 



Not less strange, however, than those already 

 alluded to, were the other inhabitants. With the 

 monkeys were associated small opossums, squirrels, a 

 racoon, and other animals at that time the tenants of 

 the forest. Several of the smaller Garni vora prowled 

 about preying upon these, and amongst whom, a 

 species of fox and a wolf show, that, as there was a 

 large supply of animal food, so there were other ani- 

 mals to avail themselves of the supply. But in all 

 this one thing is remarkable ; it is the almost total 



