THE NUTMEG TRIBE. 105 



were sent to me from the West Indies, preserved 

 in spirit." 



" Oh yes, papa," said Robert ; "the fruit was 

 something like a pear in shape, and the nutmeg 

 was like a kernel in the middle of the pulp. What 

 I thought the prettiest, was the red mace which was 

 wrapped round the kernel like a coarse net. It is 

 very odd that there should be two such different 

 spices in one fruit. I like nutmeg very much, but 

 I do not like mace at all." 



" Perhaps you do not know that your favourite 

 nutmeg can only be taken safely in very small 

 quantities. Whatever the natives of India may 

 do, it is certain that a European taking this spice 

 in excess, would soon experience intense thirst 

 and headache, and perhaps delirium and death. 

 Nutmegs are tropical plants, and so are the various 

 families composing the CUCUMBER tribe, which is 

 the next I shall mention." 



" Cucumbers grow in the open ground as well 

 as in hotbeds," said Mary, " and for that reason I 

 thought they were English plants." 



"Vegetable Marrows and Gourds," said her 

 father, " also grow freely in the open ground, but 

 they are natives of hot countries, and so are 



