The lower hill slopes before us appeared to be divided into fields of large extent, perhaps some 100 acres each, separated by ditches.

We followed a path about two yards broad, raised two or three inches above the level of the ground, and paved with some kind of hard concrete.

Each ditch was crossed by a bridge of planks, in the middle of which was a stake or short pole, round which we passed with ease, but which would obviously baffle a four-footed animal of any size.

The crops were of great variety, and wonderfully free from weeds.

Most of them showed fruit of one kind or another, sometimes gourd-like globes on the top of upright stalks, sometimes clusters of a sort of nut on vines creeping along the soil, sometimes a number of pulpy fruits about the size of an orange hanging at the end of pendulous stalks springing from the top of a stiff reed-like stem.