252 
VIEW FROM THE CREST, 
tain and sudden gorge, lit up by the bright 
morning sun, which revealed, among the wilder- 
ness of dark green forest, fields of pale green 
maize surrounding clusters of huts, and, like 
little specks, the large wallowing-ponds for buf- 
faloes- To the right “the line of the sea-coast, 
with all its varied curves, indentures, and em- 
bayments, swept away from the sight in that 
intricate yet graceful line which the eye loves 
so well to pursue.” Sir Walter Scott still further 
accurately describes the Timor coast, though 
speaking of that of Scotland — “It was no less 
relieved in elevation than in outline, the beach 
in some places being edged by steep rocks, and 
in others rising smoothly from the sands in easy 
and swelling slopes.” On the other side lay the 
view from our verandah, but here we had another 
thousand feet of vantage. 
Lest the sun should beset us ere we could 
return, we had to hasten away, sorry indeed to 
go, and commenced the descent, collecting at 
different spots the plants and other treasures 
IL had gathered as we climbed. Down we 
hastened, through the glades, over the springy 
grass of the plateau, on to the steep path. 
Stumbling, slipping, catching with the hands at 
jutting rocks, staying the feet on projecting 
