They avoided the neighbourhood of all tribes by the way, and journeyed but slowly, Tim and the chief having scarcely recovered the effects of their wounds, so that at first they did not cover much ground, for having Jumper to guard them, they were enabled to sleep every night far later than they would otherwise have done, and the sun was often high in the heavens before they resumed their march next morning.
During the daytime they were also much detained by having to procure food, but in spite of all hindrances to a quick progress, the spirits of our foresters were buoyed by the glorious hope of once again joining their own kind, and hearing something of that outside world which had been a blank to them for many weary years.
Every description of country they passed over that it was possible to conceive.
Large undulating prairies covered with rich grass and interspersed with running streams, across miles of dry and stony ranges, now cutting their way through dense and seemingly endless scrubs, where the heat was like a furnace, then out again across a complete network of great sandy beds of rivers, which in flood-time were roaring torrents, as denoted by the drift-wood hanging thirty and forty feet high in the trees on both banks.
At length they came to a river which was so different to any they had yet seen that, though it was mid-day when they arrived on its banks, they determined to “spell” there a few days and explore the neighbourhood.
This river was running with a blue and sparkling stream, numerous islets peeped up amongst its waterfalls and cascades, its banks were clothed with dense and lofty palm-tree scrubs.
Wondering how it was that this special strip of country should be blessed with a large running river when all the others were dry, or nearly so, our travellers started to explore its source.
They found, after many miles of rough walking, that it was fed by many springs which issued from the foot of a good-sized mountain amongst some Basaltic rocks. Judging from experience in other places, the chief said that these springs would never fail, probably never had done so.
Our party caught plenty of fish in this river, amongst which were many large eels, and a specially good eating fish which resembled a great silvery perch, with an eye the colour of a ruby.
The country on the banks of this river consisted of rich black soil, covered with wild bananas and other tropical growth, and carpeted with a wealth of wild flowers. Besides all this there were numerous signs of game. Traces of small fires both up and down the valley showed that it was a favourite hunting-ground of the natives.