 water in
existence, the difference being only in appearance. At first sight, and
especially in cases where little declivity was found, it bore resemblance, as
regards consistency, to a thick infusion of gum arabic in common water. But this
was only the least remarkable of its extraordinary qualities. It was not
colorless, nor was it of any one uniform color - presenting to the eye, as it
flowed, every possible shade of purple, like the hues of a changeable silk. This
variation in shade was produced in a manner which excited as profound
astonishment in the minds of our party as the mirror had done in the case of
Too-wit. Upon collecting a basinful, and allowing it to settle thoroughly, we
perceived that the whole mass of liquid was made up of a number of distinct
veins, each of a distinct hue; that these veins did not commingle; and that
their cohesion was perfect in regard to their own particles among themselves,
and imperfect in regard to neighboring veins. Upon passing the blade of a knife
athwart the veins, the water closed over it immediately, as with us, and also,
in withdrawing it, all traces of the passage of the knife were instantly
obliterated. If, however, the blade was passed down accurately between the two
veins, a perfect separation was effected, which the power of cohesion did not
immediately rectify. The phenomena of this water formed the first definite link
in that vast chain of apparent miracles with which I was destined to be at
length encircled.
 

                                  Chapter XIX

We were nearly three hours in reaching the village, it being more than nine
miles in the interior, and the path lying through a rugged country. As we passed
along, the party of Too-wit (the whole hundred and ten savages of the canoes)
was momentarily strengthened by smaller detachments, of from two to six or
seven, which joined us, as if by accident, at different turns of the road. There
appeared so much of system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I
spoke to Captain Guy of my apprehensions. It was now too late, however, to
recede, and we concluded that our best security lay in evincing a perfect
confidence in the good faith of Too-wit. We accordingly went on, keeping a wary
eye upon the manoeuvres of the savages, and not permitting them to divide our
numbers by pushing in between. In this way, passing through a precipitous
ravine, we at length reached what we were told was the only collection of
habitations upon the island. As we came in sight of them,
