HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



25 



of three pointed petals, and red, but tov/ards the middle 

 of a mixed white and yellow, reprefenting in fome de- 

 gree the fpots of that wild animal from which it takes its 

 name. The plant has leaves alfo refembling thofe of 

 the iris, and a bulbous root. 



The Cacaloxochitl^ or raven-flower is fmall, but very 

 fragrant, and coloured white, red, and yellow. The 

 tree which produces thefe flowers appears covered all 

 over with them, forming at the end of the branches na- 

 tural bunches not lefs pleafmg to the flght than grateful 

 to the fenfe. In hot countries there is nothing more 

 common than thefe flowers; the Indians adorn their al- 

 tars with them ; and the Spaniards make excellent con- 

 ferves of them ( u). 



The Izquixochitl is a fmall white flower, refembling in 

 figure the cynorrhodo, or wood-rofe, and in flavour the 

 garden-rofe, but much fuperior to it in fragrance. It 

 grows to a great tree. 



The Chempoalochitl or Chempafcuhil^ as the Spaniards 

 fay, is that flower tranfplanted to Europe which the 

 French call Oeillet dTnde, or Indian carnation. It is 

 exceedingly common in Mexico, where they call it alfo 

 Flower of the Dead ; and there are feveral kinds difler- 

 ing in flze, in figure, and in the number of petals of 

 which they are compofed. 



The flower which the Mexicans call Xiloxochitl^ and 

 the Miztecas liata^ is entirely compofed of thin, equal, 

 and fl:rait threads, but pliant and about fix inches long, 

 fpringing from a round cup fomething refembling an 

 acorn, but diflerent in fize, in colour, and fubfl:ance. 

 Some of thefe beautiful flowers are entirely red, others 



D all 



(u) It is probable that this tree Is the fame which Bomare defcribes under the 

 name of Frangipanier , 



