OF LA PERQUSE. 87 



I admired for fome time the lightnefs with 

 which the titmoufe fparus ater 9 Linn.) culled the 

 Saccharine juice that exudes from the glands 

 fituated at the bottom of the corollas. I killed 

 with regret fome of thefe charming birds,in order 

 to preferve their lkin. 



Three of us belonging to the expedition were 

 following a narrow path at a fhort diftancc from 

 the country-houfe of the Fifcal, named Denefs, 

 This man, accuftomed to defpotic power, at- 

 tempted to prevent us from paffing through un- 

 cultivated fields, which he took great care to tell 

 us w r ere his property : we were- ftrangely fur- 

 prifed at fuch a prohibition. The Fifcal could not 

 fuppofe that we would have the temerity to pafs 

 on. However, after having obferved to him 

 that we could do no damage in fields that were 

 uncultivated and covered with ftones, we followed 

 our road. This petty Vizier, feeing the little re- 

 fpecl which we paid to his orders, and not being 

 able to reply to our obfervations, flew into a great 

 pafflon, and faid to us in his barbarous jar- 

 gon, that he had cautioned us, and that there 

 was no need of farther explanation. 



Two negroes belonging to the town accom- 

 panied us: thefe poor fellows fhuddered at the 

 voice of the Fifcal, and could hardly be. per- 

 iuaded to follow us. They told us, trembling, 

 that it was M. Denefs who ordered the beatings 

 g 4 that 



