parched
and barren wastes in the land, for the rains were many and the streams
which ran to the sea from the mountains were numerous. Everywhere
luxuriant verdure swayed to breezes that played to and fro over the
rolling lowlands and about the hillsides, now coming from the water and
now from the mountains. Coffee, rice, the palm, cocoa-nut, the
areca-nut, the pepper, tamarind, and other tropical fruits and trees
grew in rank abundance, and huge forest timbers sheltered many noble
creatures of the wild.
At
the first coming of this prince, fighting was constant and bloody. The
hill tribes, more war-like than those of many lands, made frequent
descents from their fastnesses, seeking by every ruse of barbarous
warfare to exterminate the intruder. But this man was wary and alert.
Possessing the confidence of his followers, they obeyed him with
unquestioning obedience. Quick to move, merciless in his reprisals, he
was soon feared by all the surrounding country and as it became known
that he was also just and generous, peace presently followed.
Then did he seek to establish his kingdom 26
