A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



57 



The Indian took off his straw hat, scratched his forehead, 

 and then, placing two fingers in his mouth, whistled a pro- 

 longed note. Almost immediately the foliage was pushed 

 aside, and a boy about fifteen years old, wearing nothing but 

 a pair of drawers, made his appearance, and halted, as if 

 terrified at the sight of us. 



" Run to the hut, and ask for cakes and some capsicums, 

 and bring them here," said the wood-cutter, in the Aztec 

 language. 



" It's quite needless," I replied, in the same idiom ; " we 

 can breakfast much more comfortably in the hut." 



The wood-cutter looked at me in artless admiration, then 

 taking my hand, placed it on his breast. I spoke his lan- 

 guage, and I was therefore his friend. This is a feeling 

 common to all men, whatever may be their nationality or 

 social position. 



Following the young Indian, in five minutes we reached 

 a very primitive dwelling ; being but four stakes supporting 

 a roof made of branches with their leaves on. The wood- 

 men in Mexico construct such temporary places of shelter, 

 for at the commencement of the rainy season they cease to 

 dwell in the forests. 



An Indian girl warmed us a dozen of those maize-flour 

 fritters, which are called tortillas, and are eaten by the 

 natives instead of bread. She also brought us a calabash 

 full of cooked beans, which hunger rendered delicious. 



" Why don't they serve the meat first ?" asked Lucien. 



" Because they have none," replied Sumichrast. 



" Haven't these Indians any meat ? Poor fellows ! How 

 will they dine, then ?" 



" Don't you know that the Indians never eat meat more 

 than three or four times a year ; and that their usual food is 

 composed of nothing but black beans, rice, capsicums, and 

 maize flour ? Have you forgotten our dinner yesterday ?" 



3* 



