THE ORCHARDS OF LIMA. 163 



mented his income, and gained nirn the respect and 

 confidence of those who could riot appreciate his 

 skill as a naturalist. They were ready enough to 

 be cured by the French savant, when they found 

 him a more skilful leech than their own country- 

 men ; and thus self-interest secured what merit and 

 justice had failed to obtain for him. For the rest, 

 he thoroughly enjoyed the amusements of the gay 

 society with which for a time he mingled, and 

 his lively manners and agreeable person made him 

 a favourite in those assemblies over which the fair 

 Limenas presided. 



The number and variety of the vegetable pro- 

 ductions of the country afforded a rich treat to our 

 naturalist. In a climate so favourable to all kinds 

 of vegetation, tropical and equinoctial fruits and 

 flowers abound. The predominant colour of the 

 flowers of indigenous plants upon the coast being 

 yellow, while those of the mountains are white, 

 the natives have a common proverb, " Ora en la 

 costa, plata en la sierra" (Gold on the coast, silver 

 in the mountains). One of the attractions of Lima 

 is its orchards ; they are described as being always 

 beautiful. Unlike those of Europe, the native 

 fruit-trees are evergreens, and present the garb of 

 spring during the whole year. The rich green of 

 the banana and plantain, their enormous leaves 

 rustling with every breeze and discovering their 



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