Blade, stalk and sheath 

 of these Palm leaves enter into 

 the designs, and the shell of the \ 

 pilgrim's gourd serves as a flower vase 

 Different parts of these same plants also 

 are moulded into certain shapes and 

 dried, then fitted together to form stands 

 for bowls and various other vessels. Other \ 

 ornaments are also constructed. Even 

 the nightingales of the Riviera have 

 learnt to make use of these newly intro 

 duced trees. They have discovered that 

 the long fibres on the edges of the leaves \ \ 

 of the Pritchardia are admirably adapted for \ 

 nest-building. They pick them off to build 

 their temporary homes. /> 



I 



CHAPTER IV. 



\ 



Ne.xt to Bordighera, Mentone always 1^ 

 fascinates me with the magical charm of its 

 vallevs. These slope stecplj^ inland from the 

 sea to the high mountains, and offer an almost 

 infinite variety of scenery, and ever changing 

 views of picturesque hamlets perched on pre- 

 cipitous heights. The rugged rocks, towering 

 to the sky, form the background and give a 

 wild, romantic character to the whole scene 

 Thus one can wander in the valley of Fossan 

 in the east, in the valleys of Carei and Boirigo 

 in the west, and the more distant valley of 



AniirrUiimiti 

 latifolium. 



