The party proceeded on through fields of maize, rice, sugar-canes, yams, and bananas, into a thick forest of gloomy trees, from among which they disturbed the wild hogs at their roots, and the monkeys in their branches--occasionally they would meet with a porcupine, or a babyroussa--and more than once they came upon a troop of bisons, or a stray zebra, who were munching the green herbage. Flocks of pigeons were flying wildly about, and innumerable singing birds were endeavouring to create a living harmony in the forest. After proceeding in this manner about a mile, the captain and his followers began to ascend a steep rock, covered with every species of tropical verdure, and they passed, with increasing difficulty, from precipice to precipice till they came to an immense black chasm that yawned fearfully before them. Over this there was no passing. Here the captain fired a pistol, and the report, reverberating through the hollow rocks, was repeated with a thousand echoes, that called up from the dreary depths of the abyss flights of monstrous bats, several hawks, and two or three gigantic eagles, that whirled round and round over the heads of the intruders, and then disappeared in various directions. Immediately afterwards a troop of armed men, of the dark olive complexion of the country, clad in loose tunics, and lower garments reaching to the knee--with naked legs and arms--were seen descending the rock on the other side; and, as soon as they noticed the captain, they set up a cry of welcome, and danced and shouted in joyful recognition.
They immediately threw a thick rope across the chasm, which was made fast to a neighbouring tree--another rope was fastened within a foot of it--over these, two strong hoops were sent across, connected with each other, and affixed to a strong rope, and by resting the body within these, and holding the ropes by the arms, each individual of the party was dragged in safety to the other side of the rock. From thence they proceeded along a narrow path cut in the rock, winding upwards to the top, and then descended on the other side, where, at the foot of the descent, they beheld a low, heavy, antique mansion, strongly built, and almost hid among plantations of the raven palm. Here they were joined by several more of the same sort of men as those by whom they had been assisted over the chasm; and the delight they evinced at the return of their master was equally noisy and wild as that previously shown by their companions.