THE MEMORABLE. 



hundred yards from the shore; yet within the 

 recesses of the forest a universal silence appears to 

 reign. To a person fond of natural history, such 

 a day as this brings with it a deeper pleasure than 

 he can hope to experience again."* 



Again, at the close of his eventful voyage, he 

 thus reverts to the same scenes: — "Such are the 

 elements of the scenery, but it is a hopeless at- 

 tempt to paint the general effects. Learned natu- 

 ralists describe these nenee of the tropics by nam- 

 ing a multitude of objects, and mentioning some 

 characteristic feature of each. To a learned trav- 

 eller this, possibly, may communicate some defi- 

 nite idea; but who else, from seeing a plant in 

 a herbarium, 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 cicadas, 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 ren- 

 dered, 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 path- 

 * "Naturalist's Voyage," ch. i. 

 173 



