happiness has
depended on the intensity of my recollections.

I rose up hastily, in order that by a rapid survey I might take
possession of the field in which I wished to make my harvest. I stood
upon the mountains of Thibet, and the sun, which had risen a few hours
before, was now sinking in the evening sky. I journeyed from the east
towards the west of Asia, overtaking the sun in his progress, and passed
the boundaries of Africa. I looked round with great curiosity, and
crossed it in all directions. As I glanced over the old pyramids and
temples of Egypt, I observed in the deserts near the hundred-gated
Thebes, the caverns once occupied by Christian anchorites: instantly it
occurred impressively and distinctly to me--there is thy abode. I chose
for my future dwelling, one of the most secret chambers, which was at the
same time roomy, convenient, and inaccessible to the jackals, and moved
forward with my staff.

I passed into Europe by the Pillars of Hercules, and, after I had taken a
rapid survey of its southern and northern provinces, I hastened to North
Asia, and thence over the polar glaciers to Greenland and America. I
rambled through both parts of that continent, and the winter which had
begun to reign in the south now drove me quickly back northwards from
Cape Horn.

I lingered till the day dawned in eastern Asia, and after a short repose
again entered on my wanderings. I followed the chains of mountains,
through the two Americas, some of the highest elevations known in our
globe. I trod slowly and prudently from height to height, now over
flaming volcanos, and now over snowy cupolas. I was often almost
breathless with weariness, but I reached the Elias mountain and sprung to
Asia across Behring's Straits. I pursued the western coast along its
numerous windings, and endeavoured to ascertain by special observation
which of the islands in the neighbourhood were accessible to me. From
the Malacca peninsula my boots took me to Sumatra, Java, Balli, and
Lamboc. I endeavoured, often with peril, and always in vain, to find a
north-west passage over the inlets and the rocks with which the ocean is
studded, to Borneo and the other islands of the Eastern Archipelago--but
I was obliged to abandon the hope. I sat down at last on the farthest
verge of Lamboc, and turning my eyes to the south and east, I wept as if
within the grates of a prison, that I could proceed no farther. New
Holland, {112} that extrao