QUIET AND SECURITY OF THE FORESTS. 19 
shrink not from the southern blast, nor faint 
beneath the rays of the sun when he rides highest 
in the heavens. 
The forests are so extensive, and so dense, that 
no sound from without disturbs the traveller in 
his journey; and silence herself could scarcely 
be offended at the chirping of the birds, and the 
rustling of the leaves in the breeze — the only 
sounds that strike upon her stillness, and interrupt 
her deep repose. No lurking tiger is here found 
to spring upon his unsuspecting prey — no roaring 
lion to strike a sudden terror into the heart of 
all who hear the thunder of his growl~no sa- 
vage beast to hide himself during the day, and 
make his predatory excursions in the darkness of 
the night. The jungles of India, or the forests 
of America, cannot yield a more secure retreat 
for beasts of prey than these vast woods ; yet 
none are found to exist here; and the ample 
provision of the mountains, the valleys, the hills, 
the forests, and the plains of New Zealand seem 
to be reserved by Providence for the use of man, 
or for animals of the biped nature ; all of whom 
may enjoy themselves, and gratify their ap- 
petite upon those kinds of food which are best 
suited to their character and their taste. A su- 
perabundance of the best possible provision is 
found for the feathered tribes ; and man, who is 
endowed with the faculty of reason, can cultivate 
and till the earth for himself ; and, by the sweat 
of his brow, can eat his bread, and supply himself 
