1 98 THE ADVENTURES OF 



almost as learned as you, and I could tell you all the names of 

 those flowers which turn their bright faces towards me as if they 

 knew me ! It seems as if I had often walked on that plain, 



and as if I had often seen these trees, bushes, and plants 



You are laughing at me, Chanito ; it 's all very well, but you '11 

 see ! Tatita will set me right if I tell you anything that is not 

 true. Look here ! for instance," continued the Indian, rising up 

 and plucking a plant with slender and whitish stems, " this is 

 the alfilerillo, which mothers give their children to cure them of 

 sore throats. Such shrubs are lost here ; for their fruit would 

 be useful in my country. Here too, Chanito, is a mizquitl, a 

 thorny tree on which we shall be certain to find some gum. 

 Indeed, here are three morsels of it. You may safely suck 

 it ; it will not seem very nice at first, but you will soon like 

 it. Tatita ! you have really brought me back into my own 

 country." 



"We are certainly on the same line, and it is not to be 

 wondered at that you find here the same kind of vegetation as 

 in that in which you spent your childhood." 



The Indian was silent and seemed musing. Sumichrast and I 

 observed him with some curiosity, and Lucien, surprised at his 

 emotion, looked at him anxiously. 



" Here is the ' angel-plant,' " resumed I'Encuerado, suddenly. 

 " How pleased my mother used to be when I found one of 

 them." 



" What are its good properties 1 " I asked. 



" Oh ! it produces beautiful dreams, which seem to lift you to 

 heaven." 



The Indian again became pensive, sometimes casting a glance 

 over the vast prospect, and sometimes pulling up pieces of the 

 turf which grew at his feet. 



" It only needs a palm-tree to make the landscape quite com- 

 plete," said he, thoughtfully. 



In a minute or so, he advanced towards the bushes, and 

 kneeling dojrn, plucked a tuft of yellow marigold, which are 

 called in his country " the dead man's flower." Afterwards I 

 heard him sobbing. 



