116 INSECT MANUFACTURES. 



sum of four thousand livres. Owing to the 

 jealousy of the Spanish government, there was 

 great difficulty in penetrating as far as the co- 

 chineal districts, and M. Thierry pursued a plan to 

 effect his object which cannot be considered justi- 

 fiable, since it involved a departure from truth. 

 At first he feigned ill health, and obtained per- 

 mission to use the baths of the river Magdalena : 

 but, instead of going thither, he proceeded as fast 

 as possible in the direction of the desired district, 

 where he was successful in getting some plants 

 laden with cochineal, as a pretended remedy for 

 gout. From his account of the expedition we 

 gather the following particulars. 



After numerous fatigues and dangers he at 

 length saw himself near the end of his journey, 

 and approached Guaxaca. At a village, within a 

 short distance of that place, he saw, for the first 

 time in his life, and with the utmost pleasure, the 

 fine cochineal feeding on the nopal, or cactus, 

 which it frequents. He saw a garden full of 

 nopals, and not doubting but that they were laden 

 with cochineal insects, he sprang from his horse, 



