A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



331 



for mass, to say our prayers together," said Coyotepec to 

 me, " and to thank God who covers the trees with fruit, 

 and preserves us in good health." 



" We are Christians the same as you," I answered gravely. 



Then every one knelt down, and the old man recited the 

 Litanies and a succession of Ave Marias. After this one 

 of the young girls chanted a canticle, assisted by the others, 

 who joined in. The singer had scarcely finished her hymn, 

 when PEncuerado, perfectly electrified, entreated the audi- 

 ence not to move, and at once struck up one of his favorite 

 chants. He kept us at least half an hour in the burning sun, 

 till, being tired of kneeling, I made signs to him to leave off. 

 But it was lost labor, for my servant pretended not to per- 

 ceive me, and only multiplied his gestures and cries, repeat- 

 ing the same verse three times running. 



" Amen !" at last I cried, in a loud voice, getting up. 



Every one followed my example ; so, being at last set at 

 liberty, I went away, while the Indians surrounded PEncue- 

 rado to congratulate him. 



I had not yet paid a visit to the ravine, which, situated 

 as it was in the midst of the Terre-Froide, yielded the same 

 kind of productions as the Terre- Chaucle, I called Sumi- 

 chrast and Lucien, and, under the guidance of Torribio, the 

 Indian who every year drove the donkeys to Puebla, we as- 

 cended the course of the stream. 



Our guide first led us to his hut, surrounded by Bourbon 

 palms. This beautiful tree, belonging to the palm family, 

 has a strange and yet an agreeable appearance. From its 

 very summit long stalks shoot out, at the end of which 

 hangs a wide leaf, which is first folded, and afterwards 

 spreads out like a fan ornamented with points. The In- 

 dians cut up these leaves to weave the mats, called petates, 

 which form an article of such extensive commerce in Mexi- 

 co. They are also used for making baskets, brooms, bel- 

 lows, and many other household utensils. 



