we advanced, continually changed in character. Thus we threaded
avenues of English oaks and elms, the foliage of which gave way
as we proceeded to that of warmer and moister climes, and we saw
overhead the hanging masses of broad-leaved palms, and enormous trees
whose names I do not know, spreading their fingered leaves over
us like great green hands in a manner that frightened me. Here also
I saw huge grasses which rose over my shoulders, and through which
I had at times to beat my way as through a sea; and ferns of colossal
proportions; with every possible variety and mode of tree-life
and every conceivable shade of green, from the faintest and clearest
yellow to the densest blue-green. One wood in particular I stopped
to admire. It seemed as though every leaf of its trees were of gold,
so intensely yellow was the tint of the foliage.

In these forests and thickets were numerous shrines of gods such
as the Hindus worship. Every now and then we came upon them in
open spaces. They were uncouth and rudely painted; but they all
were profusely adorned with gems, chiefly turquoises, and they all
had many arms and hands, in which they held lotus flowers, sprays
of palms, and colored berries.

Passing by these strange figures, we came to a darker part of our
course, where the character of the trees changed and the air felt
colder. I perceived that a shadow had fallen on the way; and
looking upwards I found we were passing beneath a massive roof of
dark indigo-colored pines, which here and there were positively
black in their intensity and depth. Intermingled with them were firs,
whose great, straight stems were covered with lichen and mosses of
beautiful variety, and some looking strangely like green ice-crystals.