A YOUNG NATURALIST. 217 



help of two woodman's hatchets, whilst I cut pegs, all labouring 

 without intermission until the next evening. A little before 

 sunset, we had succeeded in making two large and tolerably light 

 boxes, a task which, without proper tools, was more difficult than 

 any one could suppose who had not undertaken it. 



Sunday, which was Whitsunday, found us quite amazed at our 

 performance. L'Encuerado had succeeded in weaving some mats 

 to cover the cases and preserve their contents from the damp. 

 About eleven o'clock, our host's family assembled in front of the 

 hut ; the women and young girls were dressed in red or blue 

 petticoats, with their shoulders covered with embroidered cotton 

 chemisettes ; and the younger boys were clothed in a sort of 

 blouse without sleeves. The grandmother was the last to make 

 her appearance, and she had a necklace of very valuable pearls 

 round her neck. The women wore ornaments made of bits of 

 rough coral, and their fingers were loaded with silver rings. 



" We always assemble together on Sunday at the hour for 

 mass to say our prayers together,'' said Coyotepec to me, " and 

 to thank God who covers the trees with fruit, and preserves us 

 in good health." 



" We are Christians the same as you," I answered, gravely. 



Then every one knelt down, and the old man recited the 

 Litanies and a succession of Ave Marias. After this one of the 

 young girls chanted a canticle, assisted by the others, who joined in. 

 The singer had scarcely finished her hymn, when I'Encuerado, 

 perfectly electrified, entreated the audience not to move, and at 

 once struck up one of his favourite chants. He kejDt us at least 

 half an hour in the burning sun, till, being tired of kneeling, I 

 made signs to him to leave off. But it was lost labour, for my 

 servant pretended not to perceive me, and only multiplied his 

 gestures and cries, repeating the same verse three times running. 



" Amen ! " at last I cried in a loud voice, getting up. 



Every one followed my example ; so being at last set at liberty 

 I went away, whilst the Indians surrounded I'Encuerado to con. 

 gratulate him. 



I had not yet paid a visit to the ravine which, situated as it 

 was in the midst of the Terre-Froide, yielded the same kind of 



