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CHILT. 



snow ridges above, and to the vast flocks of un- 

 disturbed wild fowl floating on the breast of the 

 lake, than to these faint traces of population. One 

 of the company who possessed an active fancy, 

 entertained us by drawing a lively picture of what 

 the lapse of a century might produce here, if the 

 country continued to prosper. He planted vil- 

 lages along the banks, cut commodious roads on 

 the sides of the mountains, and covered the lake 

 with boats; substituting the busy hum of man 

 for the present silence of the scene. While our 

 ingenious friend was thus enlarging on the pos- 

 sible effects of these anticipated improvements, 

 another gentleman, who cared little for such spe- 

 culations, was bitterly lamenting that we had not 

 brought our guns ; as the birds, which showed no 

 alarm at our presence, allowed us to pass quite 

 close ; so near indeed were they to us, that we 

 could distinguish wild ducks, swans, and flamin- 

 goes, besides many others of which we knew no- 

 thing ; and once we were startled by the sudden 

 appearance of a flock of wild parrots, which pass- 

 ed close overhead, screaming most discordantly, 

 while their beautiful plumage flashing in the sun, 



