2 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



selves in a well-arranged park. We had now 

 to cross a small lake, and then gradually 

 ascended hills beyond it, until we arrived 

 at the summit of a lofty chain of moun- 

 tains commanding the most picturesque and 

 romantic prospect we had yet seen in this 

 country. Two ranges of high hills run 

 parallel to each other for several miles, until 

 the faint blue haze hides their particular 

 characters, when they slightly change their 

 course, and are lost to the view. The space 

 between them is occupied by nearly a level 

 plain, through which a river pursues a 

 meandering course, and receives supplies 

 from the creeks and rills issuing from the 

 mountains on each side. The prospect was 

 delightful even amid the snow, and though 

 marked with all the cheerless characters of 

 winter ; how much more charming must it 

 be when the trees are in leaf, and the ground 

 is arrayed in summer verdure ! Some faint 

 idea of the difference was conveyed to my 

 mind by witnessing the effect of the de- 

 parting rays of a brilliant sun. The dis- 

 tant prospect, however, is surpassed in 



