20 The Passion Floiver. 



criterion of its merit by us of colder skies. It is possible we all 

 know how to cultivate the senses to a high degree of perfection. 

 On the ocean, sailors have described minutely, a ship in the dis- 

 tance, which, as we approached it, proved the truth of their infor- 

 mation, when it was impossible for a landsman's eye to discern 

 a speck in the horizon. Savages can hear miles off. John 

 Hunter's sense of touch was so exquisite that he often told the 

 seat of disease by the pulse alone, when the combined symptoms 

 could not enlighten others ; and the gustatory (taste) nerve may 

 be so educated as to perceive a delicious flavor in what, to us, 

 would be insipid. This is the only way in which I can account 

 for people relishing such fruits as I have, just described. As a 

 general rule, the inhabitants of hot countries are the most indo- 

 lent of any on earth ; not necessarily so, for the observer of na- 

 ture will find the heat alone a very insufficient cause of excuse. 

 In very cold climates, the food is principally oily and the wind 

 never blows. In hot climates we find aqueous vegetables and a 

 constant current. In Curacoa, on the shores of Columbia, N. 

 L. 12° 24', W. L. 69° 03', where we spent the fall of 1844, the 

 thermometer stood at 86° in the shade for an average of several 

 months ; yet such was the constancy and power of the Irade 

 winds, that it was perfectly comfortable at any hour of the day. 

 We were agreeably disappointed to find our experience so dif- 

 ferent from what we had anticipated of a sojourn in torrid regions. 

 The people, instead of partaking of the juicy fruits which nature 

 so opportunely provided, lived principally on meats, which they 

 washed down with enormous quantities of wine and brandy. 

 Their tastes were so improved (?) that all kinds of dressings for 

 poultry, &c, had to be sweetened, and it was no uncommon 

 thing to boil turkeys in molasses, and then proceed to bake them 

 in the usual way. It was a great trial for our stomach to sit at 

 table and witness the rapid disappearance of meats and liquors, 

 followed by desserts that would nauseate any Northerner. We 

 were one day coaxed by a polite gentleman, with mustaches 

 that might have encircled his little cranium, to try this fruit ; the 

 first mouthful was more than enough. The landlord, noticing 

 our dislike to the native productions, took from his closet and set 

 on the table, four little, withered, dirty-looking apples, evidently 

 considering them, poor as they were, an extra luxury. We were 

 convinced, from what we saw on the island, that it would be a 



