SOIL AND CLIMATE. 9

vegetation is everywhere demonstrated. As the

eye is delighted by the diversity of the magnificent

flowers, so it is also gratified by the varieties of

colours displayed in the plumage of the parrots,

colibris, and other feathered inhabitants of the de-

sert and the gardens, animating the trees with their

gorgeous plumes, and enchanting the ear vrith their

delightful song ; melodious and charming notes re-

sound, as if in emulation, from the various branches,

and I could almost have forgotten the song of the

lark and the nightingale of my own beloved coun-

try. But these silvery notes are not of long dura-

tion ; the song is too sweet to last for a long time.

It begins as the first dawn of morning removes the

veil of night, increases as the light extends; but when the sun arises above the horizon of the desert,

or gilds the mountains with his rays, one warbler

after the other becomes mute, and single notes are

only heard. Now appear a swarm of butterflies

and beautiful insects, delighting the eye with the

same change of gorgeous colours. Giraffes, ante-

lopes, and other animals, browse upon the plains in

the full enjoyment of life. But all these charms

soon disappear, for, under the operation of the un-

healthy climate, all cheerfulness of spirits fades in

opposition to the resolute efforts of the will, and

anxiety befalls man and robs him of all his rest.

Debility of stomach, nausea, disinclination for food,

in short, all the precursory symptoms of disease,

deprive him of every enjoyment which the beauties