12 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
tain stream, bounding from point to point, now hid, 
now bursting out anew from the clustering shrubs, and 
gliding through the levels, until it disappeared at the 
other extremity of the vale. The opposite hill, and 
another valley, partially covered with dense coppice- 
wood, led us to the foot of a mountain, which rose 
towering high above, thickly overlaid with brown heath 
and brush-wood ; up this too we held our way, and at 
last, panting and breathless, gained the summit, from 
whence a wide view was obtained of the surrounding 
country. Another valley lay before us, not like the 
others, warm and cultivated, its flat and barren plain 
being broken only by a few solitary and dismal-looking 
ponds, while further on again were more and more 
mountains. Countless black-birds and a few miserable 
cattle were the only things of life to he discovered. 
An enormous ravine offered us an exit from this 
scene, without encountering the steeps of the opposite 
range ; but it was a question whether this narrow 
chasm saved us any toil, for on and on we wandered, 
from solitude to solitude, without at any time observing 
the least trace of man or his haunts. The wild 
beauties of the scenery had delighted us, but we had 
been sadly deluded of our looked-for sport, and at last, 
faint and weary, we called a halt, and refreshed our- 
selves with the contents of an ample provision basket, 
furnished by our kind host. We speedily discussed 
the more substantial part of our mid-day meal, and, 
lighting our cigars, reclined upon the soft grass, while 
