quarter of an hour since I had left the village market. I fancied
it was a dream; but no, I was indeed awake, as I felt by the
experiment I made of biting my tongue. I closed my eyes in order to
collect my scattered thoughts. Presently I heard unintelligible
words uttered in a nasal tone; and I beheld two Chinese, whose
Asiatic physiognomies were not to be mistaken, even had their
costume not betrayed their origin. They were addressing me in the
language and with the salutations of their country. I rose, and
drew back a couple of steps. They had disappeared; the landscape
was entirely changed; the rice-fields had given place to trees and
woods. I examined some of the trees and plants around me, and
ascertained such of them as I was acquainted with to be productions
of the southern part of Asia. I made one step towards a particular
tree, and again all was changed. I now moved on like a recruit at
drill, taking slow and measured steps, gazing with astonished eyes
at the wonderful variety of regions, plains, meadows, mountains,
steppes, and sandy deserts, which passed in succession before me. I
had now no doubt that I had seven-leagued boots on my feet.

I fell on my knees in silent gratitude, shedding tears of
thankfulness; for I now saw clearly what was to be my future
condition. Shut out by early sins from all human society, I was
offered amends for the privation by Nature herself, which I had ever
loved. The earth was granted me as a rich garden; and the knowledge
of her operations was to be the study and object of my life. This
was not a mere resolution. I have since endeavoured, with anxious
and unabated industry, faithfully to imitate the finished and
brilliant model then presented to me; and my vanity has received a
check when led to compare the picture with the original. I rose
immediately, and took a hasty survey of this new field, where I