I OR a long time had we pursued our way through the sombre
forest, all silent — subdued in spirit, and disposed to bow
reverentially to receive the blessings which the religious old
trees, with outstretched arms seemed invoking upon our
heads. From all sides arose curious and horrid noises, that, like the
grotesque grinning faces of Gothic architecture, served only to increase
the pervading solemnity — the screeching of parrots, paroquets, and an
infinite variety of birds unknown to naturalists even by name ; the chat-
tering of myriads of monkeys ; the occasional laugh and growl of animals
of the hyena family ; the wild rush and whir of startled deer, harts, roe-
bucks, and the gliding, rustling sound of huge snakes, moving along the
ground, or around the gigantic trunks, and among the verdure of the
gnarled branches.
" You are silent, Kaloolah ; what are you thinking of ? " I demanded.
