iven him, and that
he had become a changed man.

The conversation I have described took place in front of the rock-hewn
temple. We were struck by the immense amount of labour bestowed on it.
First, a perpendicular face must have been given to the solid rock. On
this the outline of the temple and the figures must have been drawn, and
then with chisel and hammer inch by inch cut out. These temples, it
must be remembered, were formed at a time when art in Europe was at its
lowest ebb, and unable to produce anything at all equal to them.

Much interested in our trip, we rode back to the camp, where we hoped to
find Nowell; but though some of the scouts had come in, not a trace of
him had they discovered.

We passed the night in a state of the greatest anxiety for his safety.
I shall not forget the provoking din caused by a colony of paroquets
settled in a group of cocoa-nuts near at hand. They had been away
searching for their evening repast when we arrived; but just at sunset
they came back in prodigious crowds, screaming, chattering, and frisking
about in the most amusing manner, as if delighted to meet each other
after the termination of their day's labour. For some time, till
darkness warned them that it was time to go to rest, the din they made
literally prevented us from heaving each other speak. At length they
were silent. I was awoke, however, at the earliest dawn, by the voices
of one or two who called up their fellows.

"Good morning," said one, bowing and coquetting to another; "I hope that
you have passed a pleasant night."

"Fresh and moist, I thank you," was the answer, as Miss Polly shook the
dew from her feathers. And thus one after the other woke up, and such a
chattering and clamouring commenced, as they walked up and down along
the thick leaf-stalks of the palms in the highest state of excitement,
preening their wings and making remarks on us, probably, and talking
over the plans of the day. I jumped up and dressed, for I was anxious
to set off without delay to look for Nowell. While a cup of coffee was
boiling, I walked out a little way from the camp to enjoy the freshness
of the morning air. I had been admiring the glorious refulgence with
which the sun rose over the small lake, on the west shore of which we
were encamped, when, as I turned to retrace my steps to the tents across
the dewy grass, I was almost startled to see my shadow cast along it
with peculiar distinctness, while the sh