There were no
human footmarks to be seen, nor any signs that a human being had ever
been upon the spot.

"We followed the trail that led us directly to the banks of the stream.
It was then very shallow, and a great part of its shingly bed was dry.
I saw that this would afford a good road for our wagon, and we kept on
up the channel. About three miles from the lower end of the valley, we
came to a place where the forest was more open, and less choked up with
underwood. On the right bank of the stream there was a rising ground,
forming a clear space of large extent, with only a tree growing here and
there. This ground sloped gently down to the stream, and was covered
with beautiful herbage--both grass and flowers. It was a lovely spot;
and as we came suddenly out upon it, several animals, frightened by our
approach, bounded off into the thickets beyond. We stepped for a moment
to gaze upon the bright picture. Birds of brilliant wing were
fluttering among the many-coloured leaves, singing or screaming, and
chasing each other from tree to tree. There were parrots, and
paroquets, and orioles, and blue-jays, and beautiful loxias, both of the
scarlet and azure-coloured species. There were butterflies, too, with
broad wings mottled all over with the most vivid tints, flapping about
from flower to flower. Many of these were as large as some of the
birds, and far larger than others--for we saw flocks of tiny
humming-birds, not bigger than bees, shooting about like sparkling gems,
and balancing themselves over the cups of the open flowers.

"It was a beautiful scene, indeed; and Cudjo and I at once agreed that
that was the very place to pitch our camp. At the time, we meant it
only for a _camp_--a spot where we might remain until our animals had
recruited their strength, and we had collected from the forests around
provision enough for the Desert journey. A temporary camp, indeed!
That, gentlemen, is ten years ago, and here we are upon the same spot at
this moment! Yes, my friends, this house stands in the middle of that
very glade I have been describing. You will be surprised, when I tell
you, there was no lake then, nor the appearance of one. That came
afterwards, as you shall hear.

"What the lake now is was then part of the glade; and its surface, like
the rest, was covered with beautiful vegetation, with, here and there,
trees standing alone, or in small clumps, which gave it a most park-like
appearance. In