132 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



had been very severe. For some time it had been 

 over a rocky path, strewn with loose stones ; and the 

 last stage is by a pretty abrupt and very rough 

 descent. My poor animal had cast a shoe, and the 

 only relief that could be afforded in his calamity was 

 to dismount and lead him. "We too were somewhat 

 tired ; but the glorious sight that burst upon us 

 bathed our spirits afresh in the waters of invigoration. 

 The road had for some time kept us dodging among 

 crags and corners, which allowed no prospect, and 

 where, indeed, we were well employed picking out 

 our way. But when we emerged, what a sight did 

 we behold ! One of the noble Asiatic plains stretched 

 before us. Far as the eye could reach to right and 

 left, the green expanse extended; and immediately 

 before us it was only in the far distance that the 

 boundary of hills was seen. Here and there clumps 

 of trees variegated the turf ; and a fair river wound 

 itself amid all, looking like some huge and silvery 

 serpent disporting itself in this apt solitude. Think 

 how beautiful such a scene must have looked at even- 

 ing, when the tops of the hills and a few fleecy 

 clouds were rosy in the sunbeams. Its expression 

 was paradisiacal, the rather because the empire of 

 Peace was invaded by no sight nor sound. The air 

 was absolutely still, except for the sound of our own 

 footsteps : as for our voices, after the first expression 

 of delight, they were hushed. "We seemed to be 

 gazing on some primeval solitude, on the spot where 



