77 
scene before us. Nearly as far as the eye 
could travel, we beheld a country finely 
wooded, and, considering the season, which 
was their winter, producing a most boun- 
tiful vegetation. Their cattle appeared in 
such prodigious numbers as to baffle cal- 
culation ; and their condition, which was 
equal to the best fed oxen in Great Britain, 
clearly demonstrated the richness of their 
pasturage. Sheep were not to be disco- 
vered, nor could we perceive the most dis- 
tant traces of agricultural labour. 
The country in our view was of an im- 
mense extent, yet surrounded by a chain 
of hills that appeared to contain the foun- 
tains of those numerous rivulets which 
glided through the plain in a variety of 
directions. The mimosa tree appeared na- 
tive to the soil, and the woods were so 
beautifully interspersed, as to give the lands 
all the appearance of a plantation ori- 
ginally designed by art, and afterwards 
perfected by the hand of elegance. In my 
opinion, the whole wanted nothing but 
villages, corn, and inhabitants, to render 
this spot an enviable abode for the most 
