On the hillsides that surrounded the town far and wide were many fields, in which the first stumps were still standing, charred by the fires that had been kindled to kill them.

There were also patches of forest still to be seen among these fields, where the land had not yet been cleared.

In spite of all this, the town was very advanced, every improvement being of the newest kind because so recently achieved.

Upon huge ungainly tree-trunks roughly erected along the streets, electric lamps hung, and telephone wires crossed and recrossed one another from roof to roof.

There was even an electric tram that ran straight through the town and some distance into the country on either side.