A YOUNG NATURALIST. 147 



pediments, and our little column advanced with rather more 

 rapidity. We walked along silently between these stern and 

 imposing granite walls, with the constant hope of seeing them 

 separate and open out into a valley. Every few yards some fresh 

 turn frustrated our expectations ; and if ever any pass deserved 

 the name of the " devil's gorge," it was the interminable fissure 

 through which we had been compelled to walk for so long a dis- 

 tance. At various heights there were half-suspended rocks which 

 threatened to fall upon us ; for several previously had fallen and 

 now blocked up the path. At last a sudden turn revealed a wide 

 opening; but our joy was of short duration ; nothing but a per- 

 pendicular precipice lay in front of us. 



We looked at one another in consternation ; we were prisoners ! 

 On our right and left were perpendicular walls more than a 

 hundred feet high, and impossible to climb ; before us, there was 

 a gulf with a vertical precipice. What was to be done ? Sumi- 

 chrast lighted the pipe of council, whilst I'Encuerado clung on to 

 the rocks and tried to measure the abyss with his eye. 



We were seated near a plant with slender branches and heart- 

 shaped leaves tinged with red, concealing here and there a flower 

 of a violet blue. I recognised in it the shrub which produces 

 jalap, and is called by the Indians tolonpatl. I called Lucien's 

 attention to it, who soon dug up four or five tap-roots of a pear- 

 like shape. Jalap, which has taken its name from the town of 

 Jalapa, whence it was once forwarded to Vera Gruz, grows natu- 

 rally on all the mountains of the Terre-Tempirie. Unfortunately, 

 the Indians destroy the plant by taking away all its tubercles, 

 and the time is not far distant when this drug, so much used in 

 Europe, will, like quinine, become very scarce. 



I drew close to the precipice, and perceived I'Encuerado more 

 than twenty feet below me crawling, with all the skill of a 

 monkey, over an almost smooth surface. I ordered him to come 

 up to us again; but he did not seem able to get back, and 

 remained motionless in his dangerous position. Sumichrast 

 hastened to bring me a lasso, which I let down to our daring 

 companion. But instead of ascending, he slid down four or five 

 feet, and placing himself astride on the projecting trunk of a 



