uddenly I saw before me a scene far more
wonderful than any I had yet witnessed. In every direction over the
broad valley, on both sides of the stream, rose a number of jets of
sparkling water far surpassing in beauty the artificial fountains in the
most celebrated gardens of royal mansions.

I hurried on, to get a more perfect sight of this wonderful region.
Suddenly, from a high mound some thirty feet or more above the level of
the plain, I saw a jet burst forth, which rose to the height of one
hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty feet--a perfect geyser, the
first real one I had yet seen. It continued playing for fifteen minutes
or more, the mass of water falling back into the basin, and then running
over the edges and down the sides of the mound. Others were playing all
the time. As I hastened on, from another cone a column shot upwards to
a far greater height--considerably above two hundred feet, I should
say--and lasted very much longer than the first. The intervening spaces
between these geysers were covered with grass; and in many places trees
rich with foliage grew luxuriantly, showing that there was no danger in
venturing among them.

Another beautiful geyser, which burst up when I was not more than a
hundred yards from it, had the exact appearance of a fan. On examining
it, I found that it possessed a double orifice, which discharged five
radiating jets to the height of sixty feet; the drops of spray as they
fell perfectly representing the feathers of a fan. Nothing could be
more beautiful than the effect. The eruption lasted nearly thirty
minutes, the water preserving its elegant form during the whole time.
About forty feet from it dense masses of vapour ascended from a hole,
emitting at the same time loud sharp reports. As I looked along the
river I saw small craters of every conceivable form; some were
quiescent, while others poured out cascades forming small rivulets which
ran into the river.

So beautiful and curious was the scene, that for a time I forgot my
perilous position.

I had no fear of starving, as long as I had my fishing-line and traps,
and was able to light a fire; but I knew that I had a wild and rugged
road to pursue, and probably snow-capped mountains to climb, before I
could reach the western plains. It was important, therefore, to obtain
substantial fare, that I might regain my full strength for the
undertaking. I had not, of course, given up all hope of falling in