subsequentlylearned-thatalltheislandsofPolynesiaenjoythereputation，incommonwiththeHibernianisle，ofbeingfreefromthepresenceofanyvipers；thoughwhetherSaintPatrickevervisitedthem，isaquestionIshallnotattempttodecide。
AsthefeverishsensationincreaseduponmeItossedabout，stillunwillingtodisturbmyslumberingcompanion，fromwhosesideIremovedtwoorthreeyards。Ichancedtopushasideabranch，andbysodoingsuddenlydisclosedtomyviewascenewhichevennowIcanrecallwithallthevividnessofthefirstimpression。HadaglimpseofthegardensofParadisebeenrevealedtome，Icouldscarcelyhavebeenmoreravishedwiththesight。
FromthespotwhereIlaytransfixedwithsurpriseanddelight，Ilookedstraightdownintothebosomofavalley，whichsweptawayinlongwavyundulationstothebluewatersinthedistance。Midwaytowardsthesea，andpeeringhereandthereamidstthefoliage，mightbeseenthepalmetto-thatchedhousesofitsinhabitants，glisteninginthesunthathadbleachedthemtoadazzlingwhiteness。Thevalewasmorethanthreeleaguesinlength，andaboutamileacrossatitsgreatestwidth。
Oneithersideitappearedhemmedinbysteepandgreenacclivities，which，unitingnearthespotwhereIlay，formedanabruptandsemicircularterminationofgrassycliffsandprecipiceshundredsoffeetinheight，overwhichflowednumberlesssmallcascades。Butthecrowningbeautyoftheprospectwasitsuniversalverdure；andinthisindeedconsists，Ibelieve，thepeculiarcharmofeveryPolynesianlandscape。Everywherebelowme，fromthebaseoftheprecipiceuponwhoseveryvergeIhadbeenunconsciouslyreposing，thesurfaceofthevalepresentedamassoffoliage，spreadwithsuchrichprofusionthatitwasimpossibletodetermineofwhatdescriptionoftreesitconsisted。
ButperhapstherewasnothingaboutthesceneryIbeheldmoreimpressivethanthosesilentcascades，whoseslenderthreadsofwater，afterleapingdownthesteepcliffs，werelostamidsttherichherbageofthevalley。