2l8 THE ADVENTURES OF 



productions as the Terre-Ghaude. I called Sumichrast and Lucien, 

 and, under the guidance of Torribio, the Indian who every year 

 drove the donkeys to Puebla, we ascended the course of the 

 stream. 



Our guide first led us to his hut, surrounded by Bourbon palms. 

 This beautiful tree, belonging to the Palm family, has a strange 

 and yet an agreeable appearance. From its very summit long 

 stalks shoot out, at the end of which hangs a wide leaf, which is 

 first folded, and afterwards spreads out like a fan ornamented 

 with points. The Indians cut up these leaves to weave the mats 

 called pitates, which form an article of such extensive commerce 

 in Mexico. They are also used for making baskets, brooms, 

 bellows, and many other household utensils. 



Torribio's cabin consisted of but one room, and the fire-hearth 

 was placed outside under a small shed. This piimitive abode 

 contained neither chairs, tables, nor benches. Sumichrast was 

 full of admiration at this simplicity, which I considered rather 

 overdone; but my friend compared the life of civilisation, in 

 which luxury has created so many wants, with the lot of these 

 men who can dispense with almost everything, and decidedly 

 came to the conclusion that the latter are much the happier. 



On leaving the hut, I noticed to our left a magnificent avocado 

 pear-tree — Persea gratissima — the fruit of which yields a pulp 

 called " vegetable butter." The avocado pear, called by the 

 Indians ahuacate, is the same shape as a large pear, with interior 

 of a light-green colour and of a buttery nature; its sweet flavour 

 is delicious to every palate. It is either eaten plain, or seasoned 

 with salt, oil, and vinegar. 



" The avocado pear-tree, I should think, has no relations among 

 trees ! " said Lucien, smiling. 



" Yes, certainly it has. It belongs to the Laurel family, and is 

 the only member of it which produces eatable fruit. Its con- 

 nexions, though, occupy an important position in domestic 

 economy. First, there is the bay-tree — Laurus noKlis — the leaves 

 of which are indispensable in French cookery ; while the berries 

 furnish an oil used in medicine. Next comes the Laurus camphora, 

 from the leaves of which camphor is extracted, the crystallised 



