Long afterwards we found out that this island of
ours was no better in these respects than thousands of other islands in
those seas. Indeed, many of them were much richer and more productive;
but that did not render us the less grateful for our present good
fortune. We each put one of these roots in our pocket, intending to use
them for our supper; of which more hereafter. We also saw many
beautiful birds here, and traces of some four-footed animal again.
Meanwhile the sun began to descend, so we returned to the shore, and
pushed on round the spouting rocks into the next valley. This was that
valley of which I have spoken as running across the entire island. It
was by far the largest and most beautiful that we had yet looked upon.
Here were trees of every shape and size and hue which it is possible to
conceive of, many of which we had not seen in the other valleys; for,
the stream in this valley being larger, and the mould much richer than
in the Valley of the Wreck, it was clothed with a more luxuriant growth
of trees and plants. Some trees were dark glossy green, others of a
rich and warm hue, contrasting well with those of a pale light green,
which were everywhere abundant. Among these we recognised the broad
dark heads of the bread-fruit, with its golden fruit; the pure, silvery
foliage of the candle-nut, and several species which bore a strong
resemblance to the pine; while here and there, in groups and in single
trees, rose the tall forms of the cocoa-nut palms, spreading abroad,
and waving their graceful plumes high above all the rest, as if they
were a superior race of stately giants keeping guard over these
luxuriant forests.
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