Jack said that the yellow was the ripe fruit. We afterwards found that
most of the fruit-trees on the island were evergreens, and that we
might, when we wished, pluck the blossom and the ripe fruit from the
same tree. Such a wonderful difference from the trees of our own
country surprised us not a little. The bark of the tree was rough and
light-coloured; the trunk was about two feet in diameter, and it
appeared to be twenty feet high, being quite destitute of branches up
to that height, where it branched off into a beautiful and umbrageous
head. We noticed that the fruit hung in clusters of twos and threes on
the branches; but as we were anxious to get to the top of the hill, we
refrained from attempting to pluck any at that time.
Our hearts were now very much cheered by our good fortune, and it was
with light and active steps that we clambered up the steep sides of the
hill. On reaching the summit, a new and, if possible, a grander
prospect, met our gaze. We found that this was not the highest part of
the island, but that another hill lay beyond, with a wide valley
between it and the one on which we stood. This valley, like the first,
was also full of rich trees, some dark and some light green, some heavy
and thick in foliage, and others light, feathery, and graceful, while
the beautiful blossoms on many of them threw a sort of rainbow tint
over all, and gave to the valley the appearance of a garden of flowers.
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