ocks of granite were so closely fitted against each other
that it precluded the possibility of their taking root between them.
Consequently they ran along the surface, and as soon as the branches
attained any large size the wind overturned them, leaving a broad
avenue through the tall forest trees. We followed this road through the
day; sometimes the ground had been raised, as was plainly visible from
the low lands on either side; then again it went through hills that had
been excavated, as they rose on either side in their original height,
giving the road the appearance of a broad defile between them. Towards
sunset of the fourth day we came to a cluster of what we at first
thought to be rocks overgrown with shrubs and moss, but which, on a
closer view, proved to be a large building in ruins. Removing the
accumulated soil we found it still perfect in some of its parts. One of
its doors in particular had its lintel of granite on which rested a
huge mass of fallen stone without displacing it. Passing inside this
door we entered a room perfect in all its proportions, being about
twenty feet square; but what excited us still more than the discovery
of the ruins was some beautiful hieroglyphics carved on one side of the
room directly beneath a human figure cut in relief and curiously
decorated, holding a sceptre in its hand.

"Observing a curious knob in one side of the room, Don Quavale took
hold of it roughly to see if it was a part of the wall, when to our
astonishment it clicked heavily, and an unseen door slowly swung open
revealing an inner room of the same size as the first, but different in
appearance. Having been kept closed and, as near as we could tell,
air-tight, it was still in its original appearance. The floor which was
entirely destitute of rubbish, was of beautiful white marble, smooth
and even as glass, while the sides were covered with paintings drawn on
the wall of the size of life, the colors still vivid and beautiful. The
characters drawn were men, birds and fishes, and sometimes a
nondescript animal--half eagle and half man--a perfect monster in
appearance. Overhead was a representation of the sun, the rays
emanating from the centre in flashing colors covered the surface and
finally died away in the softest possible tints of rose color. A more
perfect representation of the sun I never beheld, and as we gazed upon
it, it seemed as if we were contemplating some beautiful creation of an
artist of our own