A YOUNG NATURALIST. 187 



My companion accepted the reproof, and without further 

 delay our party were en route. 



The stream pointed out to us the road we were to follow ; 

 along the edge of it, sheltered by the bushes and enlivened by 

 the birds which were fluttering about the banks, we shaped our 

 course. Sumichrast showed us some dahlias — the flower which 

 would be so perfect if it only possessed a perfume. It is a per- 

 ennial in Mexico, whence it has been imported into Europe, and 

 there grows to a height of about three feet, producing only 

 single flowers of a pale yellow colour. By means of cultivation, 

 varieties have been obtained with double flowers of a hundred 

 different tints, which are such ornaments in our gardens. Many 

 a Mexican, who imports dahlias at a great expense, has not the 

 least idea that the plant is indigenous to his own soil. 



The roots of the dahlia, salted and boiled, are eaten by the 

 Indians ; it is a farinaceous food of a somewhat insipid taste. 

 Certainly, the wild potato is not much better ; and who can tell 

 whether cultivation, after having enriched our gardens with its 

 beautiful flowers, may not also furnish our tables with the bulbs 

 of this plant rendered more succulent by horticulture. 



The course of the stream described numerous windings, and 

 the desire of keeping on its margin frequently diverted us from our 

 direct path ; at last it doubled round short to the left, and I bade 

 farewell to it as if to a friend, but, nevertheless, preserved a hope 

 that its capricious course would again bring it back in our path. 



Our road now commenced to ascend, sometimes crossing 

 glades or groves. Suddenly a wide prairie opened out before 

 us, and Sumichrast led the way through its tall reeds. After a 

 quarter of an hour's walking, our guide began to sneeze ; Lucien 

 followed his example, then came I'Encuerado's turn, and at last 

 mine, and ultimately Gringalet's. These repeated salvos were 

 received with shouts of laughter and " God bless you," often 

 repeated ; but a sharp tingling in the throat and eyes was soon 

 added to the sneezing. 



" I say," cried my friend, " what does this joke mean 1, " 



I looked round me more carefully, and discovered that we were 

 surrounded with euphorbia plants. 



