of the Old World. 415 



cliffs and dark winding ravines, whilst every turn dis- 

 played lovely vistas, stately avenues, groves of blos- 

 soming shrubs, clumps of gigantic forest-trees covered 

 with festoons of the wild vine, and green slopes 

 clothed with delicious verdure, forming a park-like 

 scene far surpassing any of our finest demesnes in 

 Old England. 



As I looked around, I noticed many objects that 

 brought " home scenes " vividly to mind, for, amongst 

 the vegetation indigenous to southern climes, I no- 

 ticed the wild plum, cherry, white-thorn, daisy, 

 clover, larkspur, primrose, violet, and forget-me-not ; 

 besides which the full round notes of the blackbird 

 and the warbling of the missel-thrush were heard 

 high above the melody of the other sylvan choristers. 

 An exclamation of surprise from Ahmed recalled me 

 from this very agreeable reverie, directing my atten- 

 tion into a widely different channel, for, on passing 

 close to a small piece of dense cover, I distinctly 

 heard the snapping of sticks, followed by the tread of 

 some heavy animal over dry vegetation, and almost 

 immediately a mighty wild-bull and three cows tore 

 across the plain. To loosen my rifle and spring from 

 my saddle was the work of a moment,<find, taking a 

 steady aim, I planted one bullet in his hind-quarter, 

 the only part visible, as he was bolting away, and the 

 second in his broad massive shoulder as he swerved 

 round on receiving the first wound. This last made 



