102 
TROPICAL SCENERY, 
tangled foliage. Twice we bad to cross rivers, 
and frequently descended into rocky gorges 
where the rivulets were swollen into torrents, 
and down the clayey descent to which it was 
almost impossible for the men to keep a footing. 
One would go suddenly on his back, causing a 
lurch to the palanquin, which would almost send 
me Hying out. I should greatly have preferred 
walking, but it was evident that it would be 
impossible for me to keep my feet in the slimy 
mud. So I lay Mat down and tried to think 1 
was having a luxurious time, while I watched 
the beautiful ferns and mosses in the rocky 
ledges, and enjoyed to the full the comparative 
cool of the damp atmosphere in the deep shade, 
before we should again emerge into the strong 
heat of the blazing sun, 
I do not wdsh to be ever raving about the 
wondrous beauty of tropical scenery. I wmuld 
not rouse in you any discontent with our “ ain 
countries The tempered softness of these sweet 
June evenings you are now enjoying, that har- 
mouious blending of richest colours which I can 
recall in a moorland scene in autumn, are as 
perfectly satisfying as any picture I could por- 
tray. But when we emerged from the deep 
forest shade, the prospect before us of the bright- 
