204 A SKETCH OF THE 



bottle, but the cork was very inferior in quality, and fit only for 

 making floats or imitation rockwork, such as figures in London 

 window gardens. Suddenly a loud hoarse cry was heard, and looking 

 up we expected to see a crow fly out, but nothing stirred, although 

 we shook the tree. Presently we discovered a green tree frog among 

 the branches, calling to his mate below. 



After leaving the quarry we scrambled up among the rocks, which 

 were almost hidden by wild rosemary in flower, until we reached 

 the Corniche road, where four roads meet, and where, upon one of 

 the walls of a country inn, an English artist has painted a life-size 

 picture of Massena, who was born at Nice. This picture at once 

 recalled the lines of Byron : 



" What is the end of fame ? 

 When the original is dust, 

 A name, a wretched picture, and worse bust." 



As we were criticising this work of art, a troop of girls assembled 

 in front of the inn to enjoy the fresh mountain air, and to perform 

 a dance in honour of their patroness St. Marguerite. Many of them 

 had good faces ; but I am not among those who see much beauty 

 among the peasants either of Italy or France. An equal number of 

 Bengali girls would put them in the shade. But, if not beautiful, 

 they at ah events seemed happy. As we watched, two of their 

 number came, and, seizing my daughter's arm, carried her off with- 

 out resistance to the dance ; and, apparently so pleased were they 

 with the result, that they begged I would leave their newly-found 

 pupil with them till my return. This proposition, however, I was 

 not prepared to accept ; so, with many good wishes to help us on 

 our way, we continued our journey. Soon we found many plants 

 quite new to us in their wild state — the myrtle, juniper, and 

 mountain heath {Erica arborea), from whose roots the best briar 

 wood pipes are made. Where the land is cultivated, pomegranates, 

 loquats — those fragrant Chinese trees beloved by Indian gardeners — 

 and lemons grow; but the recent severe weather, they say, has 



