FROM PINE TO PALM. 277 
The way down from this resting place 
seemed steeper and longer than the first 
half of the journey ; the heat became in¬ 
tense, the air throbbing and shimmering 
in the brilliant sunshine. Gayly colored 
paroquets and strange tropical birds went 
flitting past us and filled the air with 
their noisy calls and cries. The trail, 
however, had a persistent, unaccountable 
Indian method of keeping away from all 
shade, and wound among the thickest 
masses of thorny shrubs, which com¬ 
pelled us constantly to keep an eye on 
them, or be reminded in a manner more 
painful than pleasant. These, and the 
intense heat, made me long for the 
mountain life again. Although we had 
dropped from the crest of the range and 
land of pines to the land of palms, seven 
thousand feet, still we had many miles to 
