Дети капитана Гранта

From Peril to Safety

           Althoughtheirenthusiasmhadbeenincessantlycalledforthduringtheirfourmonths’journey,Glenarvanandhiscompanionswerecompelledtoadmireandwonderatthosegiganticpines,worthyrivalsoftheCedarsofLebanon,andthe"Mammothtrees"ofCalifornia.Thekaurismeasuredahundredfeethigh,beforetheramificationofthebranches.Theygrewinisolatedclumps,andtheforestwasnotcomposedoftrees,butofinnumerablegroupsoftrees,whichspreadtheirgreencanopiesintheairtwohundredfeetfromtheground.

           Someofthesepines,stillyoung,aboutahundredyearsold,resembledtheredpineofEurope.Theyhadadarkcrownsurmountedbyadarkconicalshoot.Theirolderbrethren,fiveorsixhundredyearsofage,formedgreatgreenpavilionssupportedontheinextricablenetworkoftheirbranches.ThesepatriarchsoftheNewZealandforestmeasuredfiftyyardsincircumference,andtheunitedarmsofallthetravelerscouldnotembracethegianttrunk.

           Forthreedaysthelittlepartymadetheirwayunderthesevastarches,overaclayeysoilwhichthefootofmanhadnevertrod.Theyknewthisbythequantityofresinousgumthatlayinheapsatthefootofthetrees,andwhichwouldhavelastedfornativeexportationmanyyears.

           Thesportsmenfoundwholecoveysofthekiwi,whicharescarceindistrictsfrequentedbytheMaories;thenativedogsdrivethemawaytotheshelteroftheseinaccessibleforests.Theywereanabundantsourceofnourishingfoodtoourtravelers.

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