A YOUNG NATURALIST. 215 



covered with a small cotton cloth, a bowl of thin soup, with 

 tortilla and tomatoes, was smoking, and we all did full justice 

 to our fare. This dish was followed by a fowl seasoned with 

 pimento sauce and black beans fried in fat ; then some camotes 

 {Convolvulus batatas) displayed the bright colours of their mealy 

 interior, in the midst of a syrup with which I'Encuerado and Lucien 

 regaled themselves. A large bowl of coffee put the finishing- 

 stroke to our satisfaction. Instead of bread, we ate some freshly- 

 made maize-cakes. Never had any dinner appeared so delicious 

 to us as this, for we had begun to get rather tired of game, which 

 had formed our principal food since we left home. 



When the meal was over, Lucien ran back to join the children, 

 who, seated on the bank of the stream, were plaiting palm-leaves 

 together. One of them was very successful in making a grass- 

 hopper, and the boys, delighted with the praises of their guest, 

 vied with one another in their inventions. They presented him 

 with a bull, a fowl, a basket, and other articles, which were very 

 curious, considering the material used and the skill of workman- 

 ship exhibited. 



Lucien, perfectly enchanted with these presents, and finding 

 that our admiration hardly equalled his own, turned to I'En- 

 cuerado, who criticised the articles submitted to him with an 

 artistic eye — 



"Then you, too, know how to weave palm-leaves?" 



"Yes, Chanito, I can make grasshoppers, horses, and even 

 birds.'' 



" Only fancy ! and yet you have never made any for me ! " 



" You are mistaken in that ; when you were quite a httle child 

 I filled your cradle with them. But as they seem to amuse you, 

 I will teach you to weave them for yourself." 



At dark the children disappeared, and our host came to wish 

 us good-night. I told him of the light we had caught a glimpse 

 of the evening before. 



" It was Juan," he said. 



" And who is Juan?" 



" The eldest of my grandchildren. He is watching a flock of 

 goats in the plain which belong to us." 



