ascending, perceived that the whole had been so completely covered with the sand, that there appeared no hills, but one continued plain, with inequalities or ridges on it like the waves of the sea.  We soon extricated our vehicle and retinue from the burning sands, but not without great danger, as the heat was very violent, and began to proceed on our voyage.  Storms of sand of a similar nature several times attacked us, but by using the same precautions we preserved ourselves repeatedly from destruction.  Having travelled more than nine thousand miles over this inhospitable plain, exposed to the perpendicular rays of a burning sun, without ever meeting a rivulet, or a shower from heaven to refresh us, we at length became almost desperate, when, to our inexpressible joy, we beheld some mountains at a great distance, and on our nearer approach observed them covered with a carpet of verdure and groves and woods.  Nothing could appear more romantic or beautiful than the rocks and precipices intermingled with flowers and shrubs of every kind, and palm-trees of such a prodigious size as to surpass anything ever seen in Europe.  Fruits of all kinds appeared growing wild in the utmost abundance, and antelopes and sheep and buffaloes wandered about the groves and valleys in profusion.  The trees resounded with the melody of birds, and everything displayed a general scene of rural happiness and joy.

CHAPTER XXVI

A feast on live bulls and kava—­The inhabitants admire the European adventurers—­The Emperor comes to meet the Baron, and pays him great compliments—­The inhabitants of the centre of Africa descended from the people of the moon proved by an inscription in Africa, and by the analogy of their language, which is also the same with that of the ancient Scythians—­The Baron is declared sovereign of the interior of Africa on the decease of the Emperor—­He endeavours to abolish the custom of eating live bulls, which excites much discontent—­The advice of Hilaro Frosticos upon the occasion—­The Baron makes a speech to an Assembly of the states, which only excites greater murmurs—­He consults with Hilaro Frosticos.

Having passed over the nearest mountains we entered a delightful vale, where we perceived a multitude of persons at a feast of living bulls, whose flesh they cut away with great knives, making a table of the creature’s carcase, serenaded by the bellowing of the unfortunate animal.  Nothing seemed requisite to add to the barbarity of this feast but kava, made as described in Cook’s voyages, and at the conclusion of the feast we perceived them brewing this liquor, which they drank with the utmost avidity.  From that moment, inspired with an idea of universal benevolence, I determined to abolish the custom of eating live flesh and drinking of kava.  But I knew that such a thing could not be immediately effected, whatever in future time might be performed.