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chain of the coast, these rocky hills were shoals 

 or islets. 



These features of a rich landscape, these con- 

 trasts between the two banks of the lake of 

 Valencia, often reminded me of the situations of 

 the Pays de Vaud, ct where the earth, every 

 where cultivated, and every where fertile, offers 

 the husbandman, the shepherd, and the vine- 

 dresser, the secure fruit of their labours," while 

 the opposite side of Chablais presents only a 

 mountainous and half-desert country. In these 

 distant climes, surrounded with the productions 

 of an exotic nature, I loved to recall to mind 

 the enchanting descriptions, with which the 

 aspect of the Leman lake and the rocks of La 

 Meillerie inspired a great writer. Now, while 

 in the centre of civilized Europe, I endeavour in 

 my turn to paint the scenes of the New World, 

 I do not imagine I present the reader with 

 clearer images, or more precise ideas, by com- 

 paring our landscapes with those of the equi- 

 noctial regions. It cannot be too often repeated, 

 that Nature, under every zone, whether wild 

 or cultivated, smiling or majestic, displays an 

 individual character. The impressions, which 

 she excites, are infinitely varied, like the emo- 

 tions produced by works of genius, according to 

 the age in which they were conceived, and the 

 diversity of languages from which they derive a 



