CHAP. IV. PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR'S FEAST. 95 



through a thick grove of mango trees, we visited some 

 chalybeate springs, where the ferruginous colour of the rock 

 and soil around indicated the abundance of iron in the spring. 

 Soon after three in the afternoon, we returned from our walk, 

 and found a very acceptable tiffin or luncheon awaiting us, in 

 which the greatest rarity to me was a fruit called Barbadoes 

 cherry. About four we took our leave, much gratified by the 

 intelligence and urbanity of our host. 



It was the eve of New Year's Day, a season of general fes- 

 tivity here, and of this we soon perceived various indications. 

 As we travelled along, I could not help noticing the activity 

 with which coloured butchers, male and female, were cutting 

 up large pigs and other animals, generally suspended from 

 the branch of a large tamarind tree, by the road side ; while 

 crowds were gathered round, either admiring the animal, or 

 waiting for a portion of it. We also met many a toil-worn 

 ' beast, horse, donkey, or mule, drawing out a whole Creole 

 family, father, mother, children, and servant, to some country 

 cousin's, for the coming holiday. 



Some of the Indian huts were already ornamented in honour 

 of the new year, with strings of flowers hung along the front 

 of the verandahs, — for almost every hut, however small, can 

 boast a verandah. In one place, I saw an Indian under a tree 

 Avith a number of strings of flowers for sale. The flowers 

 seemed to be the orange-coloured Allamanda Schottii, and a 

 fragrant plumaria, very abundant just now. Several parties 

 were examining the flowers ; and the vender was stretching 

 out his arms just as we were passing by, so as to show one of 

 his wreaths to the best advantage. But the most gratifying 

 of all these sights to me were the New Year's gifts, which 

 nearly every one seemed to be carrying home. Some miles 

 before we reached Port Louis, we passed young or middle- 

 aged Creole men and women bearing on their heads the 

 baskets in which, in the morning, they had carried their fruit, 



