244 A TOUR BOUND MY GAEDEN, 



Mademoiselle Eulaliej so with the sausages of the pork- 

 butchers." 



" Let us prove to him that braces grow upon the brace- 

 tree. — With aU my heart ; here is a botanical work, look for 

 the word Ficus. 



"Ficus. Ficus religiosa — ^that's not it. Ficus hengalensis — 

 nor that. Ficus virens, ficus scahra, ficus mauritana — ^none ot 

 them. Ficus populifolia, ficus ulmifolia. No. Ficus lauri- 

 folia, ficus cetrifolia, ficus crassinervia, ficus ferruffinea, 

 ficus racemosa, ficus phytolacccefoUa, ficus glaucophylla, fi^us 

 scandens, ficvs rubiginosa, ficus macrophylla, ficus nymphoei- 

 folia. No. Where can it be? Ah! h&cB it is, ficus elasticq,. 



" Well, ficus elastica, does it exist ? yes or no. Answer. 

 Can you read? What is that before you?" 



" Ficvs elastica." 



" Well, do you believe that India exists ? If you do not 

 believe that [ndia exists, why, we must show it to you on a 

 map; besides, you know what PowZes d^Inde (turkeys) are? 

 you know what Manons d^Inde (large chestnuts) are ? Now 

 here are braces produced from the^cMS elastica; they are good 

 for nothing, they grew in the greenhouse at the Jardin des 

 Plantes. There are none good but such as are brought from 

 India every year, just the same as they grow pineapples j all 

 foreign fruits are in greatest perfection in their own country. 

 It is said the crop is excellent this year, the brace-trees are 

 loaded. Well, do you beUeve me now? Have you proofs 

 enough of that?" 



" Oh, yes, when you produce good reasons — " 



" Well, it's just the same with the sausage-tree. Is that 

 more surprising than braces on the ^cms elastica f If you are 

 only willing to believe what you have seen, you will not be- 

 lieve much, my good friend." 



The next morning they had a large cervelas d, Fail (a large 

 sausage seasoned with garlic) served for his breakfast. 



" Well, my friend, we have been fortunate enough to 

 get one; as nothing could convince you but proofs, here 

 it is." 



They tasted the sausage, and found it excellent. 



" Do you imagine a vulgar porkbutcher could make any- 

 thing like that? 



