treat; but being urged forward by our guide, we soon mastered the three who led the van, and this gave us spirit to encounter the main army, who were conquered to a man before we left the field. We had scarcely taken breath after this victory, when, to our no small dismay, we descried a strong reinforcement of the enemy stationed on the opposite side. These were exactly equal in number to the former army, but vastly superior in size and stature; they were, in fact, a race of giants, though of the same species with the others, and were capitally accoutred for the onset. Their appearance discouraged us greatly at first; but we found their strength was not proportioned to their size; and having acquired much skill and courage by the late engagement, we soon succeeded in subduing them, and passed off the field in triumph. After this we were perpetually engaged with small bands of the enemy, no longer extended in line of battle, but in small detachments, of two, three, and four in a company; we had some tough work here, and now and then they were too many for us. Having annoyed us thus for a time, they began to form themselves into close columns, six or eight abreast; but we had now attained so much address, that they were no longer very formidable to us.

Notwithstanding these frequent skirmishes, we were on the whole well pleased with our road. It lay for the most part, through a verdant and

flowery district, and we had many intervals of relaxation and repose.

After continuing this route for a considerable way, the face of the country suddenly changed, and we began to enter upon a vast succession of snowy plains, where we were each furnished with a certain light weapon, peculiar to the country, which we flourished continually, and with which we made many light strokes, and some desperate ones. The waters hereabouts were dark and brackish, and the snowy surface of the plain was often defaced by them. Probably we were now on the borders of the Black Sea. These plains we traversed across and across, for many a day.

Upon quitting this district the country became far more dreary; it appeared nothing but a dry and sterile desert, the soil being remarkably hard and slaty. Here we saw many curious figures, but we soon found that the inhabitants of this desert were mere ciphers, sometimes they appeared in vast numbers, which were again suddenly diminished.

Our road, after this, wound through a rugged and hilly country, which was divided into nine principal parts or districts, each under a distinct governor; and these again were reduced into endless subdivisions. Some of them we were obliged to decline; it was not a little puzzling to perceive the intricate ramifications of the paths in these parts. Here, the natives spoke several

dialects, which rendered our intercourse with them very perplexing. However, it must be confessed, that every step we set in this country was less fatiguing and more interesting. Our course at first lay all up hill, and when we had proceeded to a certain height, the distant country, which was most richly variegated, opened finely to our view: and the atmosphere at this elevation was so clear, that we were able to discern several very remote countries, and were gratified with a distant view of many celebrated antiquities.

I must not, however, omit here to mention a circumstance which occasioned no little mortification and chagrin to some of our party. The hills we were now climbing were so lofty and romantic, and the prospects appeared to us so extensive, that several of us were of opinion, that ascending a few more heights would bring us to our journey's end; and a gaudy and contemptible pagoda, that stood on a neighboring summit, was actually mistaken by us for the temple of knowledge itself. Under this idea, many of our party rushed on with an air of triumph; at the same time regarding with looks of great contempt, several parties of pilgrims whom we observed still patiently trudging along in the valleys below. Just as we were loudly congratulating ourselves on this speedy termination of our travels, and admiring the gay and superficial gilding that adorned this edifice, we were accosted by a venerable man, who hav

ing with a smile of pity disclosed to us our mistake, requested us to follow him, while he led us to the farthest summit of the hill; where he desired us to observe a range of lofty mountains, which appeared like faint clouds in the distant horizon.

66 Youths," said he, "believe me, it will be long ere you reach the nearest summit of that sublime range: perhaps the patience of some of you may be exhausted before you even approach their bases; but be assured, that if you should attain that elevation, you will, even from thence only be able to gain a distant glimpse of the temple, which is situated on one of a far loftier and more remote chain. Be not disconcerted, you are not the first novices who have mistaken this glittering and tawdry place for that sublime structure; some I have known who could never be persuaded of their error, but under the idea of having attained the end of their pilgrimage, have run in this low neighborhood all their days. I, myself," continued he, "have been a pilgrim from my childhood, but have never been able to reach the desired goal. I have now retraced my steps for a considerable distance, and am waiting here the arrival of some zealous pilgrims from the valleys, whom I have undertaken to conduct by the nearest route, as far towards the temple as I am myself acquainted with the road."

Some of our number, ingenuously acknowledg

ing our error, thanked the sage for his information; while others treated him as a conceited impostor. At this place a great variety of roads meet; and here it is usual for parties to disband, each individual taking that path which best suits his taste or convenience. I accordingly took an affectionate leave of my companions, with the lively hope mutually expressed, of meeting them all at length within the boundaries of the temple of knowledge.

The path I now chose was remarkably steep and difficult of ascent; yet it seemed to me the most inviting. I travelled chiefly by night, keeping my eye in an upward direction, and guiding my course by the motions of the heavenly bodies. This favorite track, with occasional deviations into lanes and meads belonging to the same district, I have continued to pursue to the present moment. The range of magnificent mountains, mentioned by our early director, now begins to present itself to my longing view, in broad lights and bold outlines, and as I mentioned above, the temple itself, situated on the loftiest of them all, is visible in a favorable atmosphere. But I now often call to mind the words of that venerable guide, and begin to entertain serious apprehensions that there is some, at present, impassable boundary, which divides the immediate vicinity of the temple from these lower regions. And should I, upon a nearer approach, find this to be the