A YOUNG NATURALIST. 221 



heart-shaped leaves tinged with red, concealing here and 

 there a flower of a violet blue. I recognized in it the shrub 

 which produces jalap, and is called by the Indians tolonpatl. 

 I called Lucien's attention to it, who soon dug up four or 

 five tap-roots of a pear-like shape. Jalap, which has taken 

 its name from the town of Jalapa, whence it was once for- 

 warded to Vera Cruz, grows naturally on all the mountains 

 of the Terr e- Temper ee. Unfortunately, the Indians de- 

 stroy the plant by taking away all its turbercles, and the 

 time is not far distant when this drug, so much used in Eu- 

 rope, will, like quinine, become very scarce. 



I drew close to the precipice, and perceived l'Encuerado 

 more than twenty feet below me crawling, with all the skill 

 of a monkey, over an almost smooth surface. I ordered 

 him to come up to us again ; but he did not seem able to 

 get back, and remained motionless in his dangerous posi- 

 tion. Sumichrast hastened to bring me a lasso, which I let 

 down to our daring companion. But instead of ascending, 

 he slid down four or five feet, and placing himself astride 

 on the projecting trunk of a tree, called out to us to let go 

 the lasso ; this he tied round a stout branch, and disappear- 

 ed down the abyss. 



It w r as not long before we saw him again install himself 

 on the tree round which he had rolled the leather strap, 

 when he called out to us that we might descend without any 

 great danger. 



" How shall we fasten it ?" asked Lucien ; " there are no 

 thick branches just at the edge." 



" The strap is a long one, and there is a bush not far off 

 with pretty strong branches." 



"But then we shall lose the lasso, for none will be left to 

 loosen it." 



"Upon my word !" cried Sumichrast, " Master Sunbeam 

 is right." 



