70 



THE HOLLY. 



The leaves are evergreen, from two to six inches 

 long, notched, and more or less acute, and in 

 some varieties dotted with minute black glands. 

 The principal Yerbals, or woods of the Yerba- 

 tree, are situated near the small town of Villa 

 Real. So impenetrable, and in many parts over- 

 run with brushwood, are these forests, and every- 

 where so tenanted with reptiles of a venomous 

 character, that the only animals capable of being- 

 driven through them are oxen and mules ; the 

 former, necessary for the food of the colony of 

 Yerba-makers, and the latter, indispensable to the 

 conveyance out of the woods of the tea, after it 

 has been manufactured and packed. These poor 

 beasts are so tortured with the bites of mosqui- 

 toes as to yell dreadfully when driven along, and 

 the Peons, or slaves who ride the mules, have 

 their legs cased in raw hides, their faces covered 

 with tanned sheepskin, and their hands protected 

 by gloves of the same material. The party gene- 

 rally consists of from twenty to fifty persons, 

 and is collected by the merchant, who has ob- 

 tained permission from the governor to cut the 

 leaves, and who immediately notifies in public his 

 intention in those districts where the natives re- 

 side who best understand the bushiess. The mer- 

 chant comes, provided with goods, mules, hides, 

 and hatchets ; and gives the persons w^hom he en- 

 gages a certain quantity of articles in advance, on 

 credit. Thus equipped, they set off* in the direc- 

 tion of the Forests of Yerba. When bivouacing 

 at night, a high stage is erected, fifteen feet from 

 the ground, whereon a roof is laid, on which the 

 whole colony sleep to avoid the mosquitoes, which 

 never rise so high in the air, and also to be safe 



