reat, smooth road at a hand gallop. First of all, there was the road
itself, which was, in its way, a masterpiece of engineering; but, apart
from that, Harry could not but marvel at the perfect cleanliness of it,
until he learned that it had been traversed throughout the entire length
of the route by a whole army of sweepers during the early hours of the
morning, since when no living thing had been allowed upon it. Then
there was the noble and endless avenue of shade trees which bordered the
road on either hand, dividing it from the wide footpaths, which in their
turn were shaded by less lofty trees, fruit-bearing for the most part,
the fruit being intended for the refreshment of the wayfarer. Then
there were neat, orderly, and perfectly cultivated fields of sugar cane,
maize, tobacco, indigo, cotton, rice, coca trees, cacao, and other
tropical products on the flats immediately adjoining the road, while
farther back, toward the hills, were grain of all sorts, interspersed
with vast orchards and, at intervals, a stretch of pasture land, with
low, squat farmhouses and outbuildings dotted about in the midst. The
farmers and their helpers were all busily engaged upon various kinds of
labour in their fields, but those who were near enough to the roads to
do so no sooner heard the distant hoof-beats of the approaching
cavalcade, and beheld the royal banner flaunting its blue and gold in
the wind, than they flung down their implements and rushed helter-
skelter to the roadside to watch the Inca go by, and acclaim him as he
passed.

But with every mile of that exhilarating ride towards the City of the
Sun the aspect of the landscape became subtly modified; the farms became
more extensive, the farmhouses larger and more elaborate in their style
of architecture, ornamental and decorative features became increasingly
conspicuous in every building encountered, until finally the aspect
became distinctly suburban, the farmhouses gave place to country
residences, the farms gradually merged into pleasure gardens, gay with
flowers and rich in carefully-cultivated fruit trees; the houses drew
closer together, and little groups of people in gala attire were
encountered, gradually increasing in numbers until the footpaths on
either hand were lined with joyous crowds of cheering people.

Then the white buildings of the city itself swung into view, gleaming
like alabaster between the boles of the bordering trees, with here and
there a f