NEGKO VILLAGES. 
257 
fence, being absolutely impenetrable ; when not in 
flower or fruit it can hardly be distinguished from 
the Pine-apple, but is more vigorous and formidable, 
the recurved spines with which the edges of the long 
leaves are set being exceedingly sharp, and inflicting 
terrible scratches. When flowering in March it is a 
beautiful object ; the central leaves being of the most 
brilliant glossy vermilion, and the thick spike of 
blossom of a delicate pink-white. This is replaced 
by a dense head of hard woody capsules, not united 
into a compound succulent fruit as in the Pine-apple, 
but separate, though closely packed. They contain 
an acid juice, which is pleasant to moisten the lips or 
tongue, but is found to be acrid and caustic if used in 
any quantity. 
The picturesque beauty of which I have spoken as 
characterizing the peasants’ hamlets does not depend 
on the habitations themselves ; these are small huts, 
generally made of wattle, or hurdle-work, and 
thatched with the fronds of some of the Palms. But 
it is in the variety and grandeur of the various trees 
in which they are embowered. It so happens that 
the tropical trees most valued for their fruit are also 
eminently conspicuous for beauty. The Papaw^, 
whose large fruit has the singular property of render- 
ing tender the toughest meat with a few drops of its 
juice, and the Cocoa-nut which supplies meat and 
drink, are fine examples of tall and slender grace. 
The glossy evergreen of all the Citron tribe, from the 
great Shaddock to the little Lime, — how beautifully 
it throws out into relief the noble golden fruit, or 
serves as a ground for the delicately white blossoms, 
