ing river, came to my
ears, intermingled with the peculiar hum of multitudinous human voices.

"While I listened in an extremity of astonishment which I need not
attempt to describe, a strong and brief gust of wind bore off the
incumbent fog as if by the wand of an enchanter.

"I found myself at the foot of a high mountain, and looking down into a
vast plain, through which wound a majestic river. On the margin of this
river stood an Eastern-looking city, such as we read of in the Arabian
Tales, but of a character even more singular than any there described.
From my position, which was far above the level of the town, I could
perceive its every nook and corner, as if delineated on a map. The
streets seemed innumerable, and crossed each other irregularly in
all directions, but were rather long winding alleys than streets, and
absolutely swarmed with inhabitants. The houses were wildly picturesque.
On every hand was a wilderness of balconies, of verandas, of minarets,
of shrines, and fantastically carved oriels. Bazaars abounded; and
in these were displayed rich wares in infinite variety and
profusion--silks, muslins, the most dazzling cutlery, the most
magnificent jewels and gems. Besides these things, were seen, on all
sides, banners and palanquins, litters with stately dames close veiled,
elephants gorgeously caparisoned, idols grotesquely hewn, drums,
banners, and gongs, spears, silver and gilded maces. And amid the
crowd, and the clamor, and the general intricacy and confusion--amid
the million of black and yellow men, turbaned and robed, and of flowing
beard, there roamed a countless multitude of holy filleted bulls, while
vast legions of the filthy but sacred ape clambered, chattering and
shrieking, about the cornices of the mosques, or clung to the minarets
and oriels. From the swarming streets to the banks of the river, there
descended innumerable flights of steps leading to bathing places, while
the river itself seemed to force a passage with difficulty through the
vast fleets of deeply--burthened ships that far and wide encountered
its surface. Beyond the limits of the city arose, in frequent majestic
groups, the palm and the cocoa, with other gigantic and weird trees of
vast age, and here and there might be seen a field of rice, the thatched
hut of a peasant, a tank, a stray temple, a gypsy camp, or a solitary
graceful maiden taking her way, with a pitcher upon her head, to the
banks of the magnificent river.