For the rest, in every direction stretched vastness, illuminated far as the eye could reach by the soft light of which I have spoken, that is, probably for several miles.

But this vastness was not empty.

On the contrary it was occupied by a great city.

There were streets much wider than Piccadilly, all bordered by houses, though these, I observed, were roofless, very fine houses, some of them, built of white stone or marble.

There were roadways and pavements worn by the passage of feet.