midday
From the most remote antiquity nobody has been known to live in the shade of this virgin forest ; the ferns , the creepers , are so entangled that it is impossible for a man to cross this wilderness without clearing his way with a hatchet . A young student named Chang , who lived in the City-over-the-sea , used to rest himself from his daily labour by going out to sea in a small junk he managed himself . Having heard of the mysterious island , he resolved to explore it , prepared wine and food , and sailed out on a beautiful summer 's morning . Towards midday he neared the place where the island was supposed to be . Soon a delicious perfume of flowers was brought to him by the hot breeze . He saw the dark green of the trees over the light green of the sea , and , when still nearer , the yellow sand of the beach , where he resolved to disembark . The junk touched the shore ; he tied it to a large fallen tree whose end dipped into the gentle waves , and proceeded at once to a hearty meal .