In another part of the garden is a colony
of monkeys, the skeleton of an elephant, birds of all kinds. Swans and
various rare water-fowl were swimming on a piece of water, which was
green, by the by, and when the fowls dived they stirred up black mud. A
stork was parading along the margin, with melancholy strides of its long
legs, and came slowly towards its, as if for companionship. In one
apartment was an obstreperously noisy society of parrots and macaws, most
gorgeous and diversified of hue. These different colonies of birds and
beasts were scattered about in various parts of the grounds, so that you
came upon them unexpectedly. Also, there were archery and
shooting-grounds, and a sewing. A theatre, also, at which a rehearsal
was going on,--we standing at one of the doors, and looking in towards the
dusky stage where the company, in their ordinary dresses, were rehearsing
something that had a good deal of dance and action in it. In the open
air there was an arrangement of painted scenery representing a wide
expanse of mountains, with a city at their feet, and before it the sea,
with actual water, and large vessels upon it, the vessels having only the
side that would be presented to the spectator. But the scenery was so
good that at a first casual glance I almost mistook it for reality.
There was a refreshment-room, with drinks and cakes and pastry, but, so
far as I saw, no substantial victual. About in the centre of the garden
there was an actual, homely-looking, small dwelling-house, where perhaps
the overlookers of the place live.
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