544 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



they were nearly spoiled by the snow which had recently 

 covered them. 



We did not reach the Hopital de Benasque, where we were 

 to pass the night, until dusk ; and a more desolate, unin- 

 viting place for weary travellers like ourselves, cannot well be 

 imagined. However, the prospect of a supper and a bed 

 made us overlook the unglazed windows, the brigand-like 

 figures, and the indescribable filth which everywhere met our 

 eyes. The former, when it came, consisted of a soup of oil, 

 garlic, and bread, of which a single taste was sufficient for 

 me, though our guide ate of it with great relish, and a dish of 

 boiled mutton cutlets, which I found so excellent as amply to 

 compensate for the want of the soup. As to the beds, we 

 were not without considerable misgivings as to the treatment 

 we should meet with when we ventured to take possession of 

 them ; but after sitting over the fire we had caused to be 

 lighted, as long as we could hold up our heads, we crept into 

 them without taking off our clothes. Here we had not lain 

 many minutes, when we were attacked by legions, equally 

 numerous and voracious with those which Robinson Crusoe 

 encountered in a part of the Pyrenees not very distant ; and 

 after bearing up against their assaults as well as I could until 

 a little past midnight, I leaped out of bed and posted myself 

 by the window, where I amused myself with watching the 

 moon sink behind the opposite mountains. It was too cold 

 to remain here long ; but the idea of facing my tormentors 

 again was so horrible, that I felt I had rather join the fifteen 

 Spaniards, who lay round the immense hearth-fire below; 

 and observing a spark still remained on our own hearth* 1 

 blew at it until I succeeded in raising a flame ; and having 

 made as good a fire as I could, my companion, who was 

 suffering no less than myself, left his couch and joined me. 

 Our first care was to exchange the garments we had on for 

 others, which were in our carpet-bags, and we then passe 

 most of the rest of the night in the interesting occupation o 

 examining the cast-off property, and dislodging from it 

 the tenants we could lay hands on. 



