Woods of palms and various unknown trees were scattered over the scene.

The beautiful stream meandered across the valley like a silver ribbon, bordered by rushes and other aquatic plants.

There was no trace of the footstep of man.

The country had all the purity of its first creation; no living creatures but some beautiful birds and brilliant butterflies appeared.
But, at a distance, we saw some specks, which I concluded were the animals we had first seen, and I resolved to go nearer, in hopes our ass might have joined them.

We made towards the spot, and, to shorten the road, crossed a little wood of bamboos, the stalks of which, as thick as a man's thigh, rose to the height of thirty feet.