RECOLLECTIONS TO 1890. 99 



with exultation, bliss, joy, to find he had something 

 I did not know or not seen; in a few seconds of 

 mutual contemplation, I exclaimed : Where have you 

 found those plants ? ! You must have had trouble to 

 get them, and you must have paid a good price for 

 them, for they are, as far as I know, rare and difficult 

 to have, even with money. Then he was to the apogee 

 of his happiness ! But it did not last long, for he 

 asked me, have you ever seen any of them ? Do you 

 know the names of any ? Quietly as it becomes a man, 

 an actor, if you please, who knows his part, I said yes, 

 I know some of them, not all. Well, then, tell me? 

 What is this ? What is that ? I looked at hjm, and 



told him. Why ! Mr. , you must have a very 



short memory ! Do you not recollect some time ago 

 you asked me if I would not give you a list of the best, 

 rarest, newest and most remarkable plants, old or new, 

 I had seen ? He kept silent for a few seconds, then 

 said : Tell me the names ! Instantly as a horse which 

 feels the spur, I told him, here is Lataniarubra,Thrinax 

 radiata, Cossignia borbonica gone ad patres, dead, this 

 I have never seen but once, 35 years since, this I only 

 knew the name, but could apply it. In a great deal less 

 time than it has taken me to write these names, that, 

 his arms, which rested on his haunches dropped on his 

 thiyh$, with a change in his countenance really alarm- 

 ing for any one not knowing the cause. In that 



