A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



285 



before us, and Sumichrast led the way through its tall 

 reeds. After a quarter of an hour's walking, our guide be- 

 gan to sneeze ; Lucien followed his example, then came 

 l'Encuerado's turn, and at last mine, and ultimately Gringa- 

 let's. These repeated salvos were received with shouts of 

 laughter and " God bless you," often repeated ; but a sharp 

 tingling in the throat and eyes was soon added to the 

 sneezing. 



"I say," cried my friend, "what does this joke mean ?" 



I looked round me more carefully, and discovered that 

 we were surrounded with euphorbia plants. 



But this mishap soon became a most serious affair, as 

 the sneezing seemed as if it never would end, and our skin, 

 eyes, and mouth commenced to burn as if in a fever. On 

 this occasion we did not care even to construct a hut or 

 light a fire, but were only too glad to lie down on the bare 

 cold ground, and seek in sleep some respite from our suffer- 

 ings. 



Lucien, although very exhausted, endured his sufferings 

 with such courage as made me proud of him. Uncomplain- 

 ing, he soon went off to sleep ; but to myself and compan- 

 ion such a luxury was refused. 



At length, almost desperate, I woke up the Indian. Our 

 faces had continued to swell, but the Mistec, regarding me 

 with a stupefied look, simply grunted, and turned round to 

 sleep again. However, it became important that we should 

 have a fire lit to enable us to prepare our coffee : as for 

 eating, I looked upon it as an impossible matter. With a 

 slowness and awkwardness which I could not overcome, I 

 succeeded in lighting some dry branches, and at length in 

 making the water boil. I then called my companions ; they 

 drank the refreshing beverage, without showing any sign 

 that they were conscious of the service I was rendering 

 them, for immediately afterwards they again went to sleep. 



