sunshine, while Jack and I examined the bread-tree.

We were much struck with the deep, rich green colour of its broad
leaves, which were twelve or eighteen inches long, deeply indented,
and of a glossy smoothness, like the laurel. The fruit, with which
it was loaded, was nearly round, and appeared to be about six
inches in diameter, with a rough rind, marked with lozenge-shaped
divisions. It was of various colours, from light pea-green to
brown and rich yellow. Jack said that the yellow was the ripe
fruit. We afterwards found that most of the fruit-trees on the
island were evergreens, and that we might, when we wished, pluck
the blossom and the ripe fruit from the same tree. Such a
wonderful difference from the trees of our own country surprised us
not a little. The bark of the tree was rough and light-coloured;
the trunk was about two feet in diameter, and it appeared to be
twenty feet high, being quite destitute of branches up to that
height, where it branched off into a beautiful and umbrageous head.
We noticed that the fruit hung in clusters of twos and threes on
the branches; but as we were anxious to get to the top of the hill,
we refrained from attempting to pluck any at that time.

Our hearts were now very much cheered by our good fortune, and it
was with light and active steps that we clambered up the steep
sides of the hill. On reaching the summit, a new, and if possible
a grander, prospect met our gaze. We found that this was not the
highest part of the island, but that another hill lay beyond, with
a wide valley between it and the one on which we stood. This
valley, like the first, was also full of rich trees, some dark and
some light green, some heavy and thick in foliage, and others
light, feathery, and graceful, while the beautiful blossoms on many