SCENERY OF UKAWENDI 431 



clamour without intermission until morning. Towards daylight they retreated 

 towards their leafy caverns, for — 



' There the lion dwells — the Monarch, 

 Mightiest among the brutes ; 

 There his right to reign supremest 

 Never one his claim disputes ; 

 There he layeth down to slumber, 

 Having slain and ta'en his fill ; 

 There he roameth, there he coucheth, 

 As it suits his lordly will' 



And few I believe would venture therein to dispute it. Not I, 'i faith,' when 

 searching after Livingstone." 



He has a different story to tell of the southern portion of the same region. 

 He says : " The fairest portion of Calif ornian scenery cannot excel, though it 

 may equal, such scenes as Ukawendi can boast of, and yet a land as large as 

 the State of New York is almost uninhabited. Days and days one may travel 

 through primeval forests; now ascending ridges overlooking broad, well- 

 watered valleys, with belts of valuable timber crowning the banks of the river ; 

 and behold exquisite bits of scenery — wild, fantastic, picturesque, and pretty 

 — all within the scope of vision, whichever way one may turn. And, to crown 

 the glories of this lovely portion of earth, underneath the surface but a few 

 feet is one mass of iron ore, extending across three degrees of longitude, and 

 nearly four of latitude, cropping out at intervals, so that the traveller cannot 

 remain ignorant of the wealth lying beneath. 



" Ah me ! what wild and ambitious projects fill a man's brain as he looks 

 over the forgotten and unpeopled country, containing in its bosom such stores 

 of wealth, and with such an expanse of fertile soil capable of sustaining mil- 

 lions ! What a settlement one could have in this valley ! See, it is broad 

 enough to support a large population. Fancy a church spire where that tree 

 rears its dark crown of foliage, and think how well a score or so of pretty 

 cottages would look, instead of those thorn clumps and gum trees ! 



" Fancy this lovely valley teeming with herds of cattle, and fields of corn 

 spreading to the right and left of this stream ! How much better would such 

 a state of things become this valley, than the present deserted and wild aspect! 

 But be hopeful ; the day will come, and a future year will see it when happier 

 lands have become crowded, and nations have become so overgrown, that 

 they have no room to turn about. It really wants an Abraham or a Lot, an 

 Alaric or an Attila, to lead their hosts to this land, which perhaps has been 

 wisely reserved for such a time." 



Leaving this unpeopled paradise behind them, the party had several 

 weary days' march over a country as rocky and sterile as the Sierra Nevada, 

 which, in its rocky hills, and dry, stony watercourses, reminded Mr. Stanley 

 of the country round Magdala. Their provisions were all but exhausted, 



