They touched ground towards the north of Popuyan, not far from the river Cauca, in a place which showed many signs of human habitation. There were traces of cultivation, level roads broken and impassable in places, trees cut and strewn about, appearances of what might be graves, and here and there human bones were scattered. But the celestials could neither hear the voice, nor see the shadow of a living man, though they listened acutely, and looked all around them. They proceeded, walking and flying, for the distance of many miles, passing mountains and rivers, and finding everywhere the same traces of human habitation, and the same solitude. "How is it these countries are now deserted," said Momus to Prometheus, "though they were evidently once inhabited?" Prometheus mentioned the inundations of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and heavy rains, which he knew were ordinary occurrences in the tropics. Indeed, as if in confirmation of his words, they could distinctly hear in the neighbouring forests the incessant patter of rain-drops falling from the branches of trees agitated by the wind. But Momus was unable to understand how that locality could be affected by inundations of the sea, which was so distant as not to be visible on any side. Still less could he comprehend why the earthquakes, storms, and rains should have destroyed the human beings of the country, sparing however, the jaguars, apes, ants, eagles, parrots, and a hundred other kinds of animals and birds which surrounded them. At length, descending into an immense valley, they discovered a little cluster of houses, or wooden cabins, covered with palm leaves, and environed on all sides by a fence like a stockade. Before one of these cabins, many persons, some standing, some sitting, were gathered round an earthen pot suspended over a large fire. The two celestials, having taken human form, drew near, and Prometheus, courteously saluting them all, turned to the one who seemed to be their chief, and asked him what they were doing. _Savage_. Eating, as you see. _Prom_. What savoury food have you got? _Savage_. Only a little bit of meat. _Prom_. Of a domestic, or wild animal? _Savage_. Domestic, in truth, since it is my own son. _Prom_. What! Had you then, like PasiphaÎ, a calf for your son? _Savage_. Not a calf, but a child like every one else. _Prom_. Do you mean what you say? Is it your own flesh and blood that you are eating? _Savage_. My own? No. But certainly that of my son. Why else did I bring him into the world, and nourish him? _Prom_. What! To eat him? _Savage_. Why not? and I will also eat his mother when she can have no more children. _Momus_. As one eats the hen after her eggs.