chap, iv. PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR’S FEAST. 
95 
through a thick grove of mango trees, we visited some 
chalybeate springs, where the ferruginous colour of the rock 
and soil around indicated the abundance of iron in the spring. 
Soon after three in the afternoon, we returned from our walk, 
and found a very acceptable tiffin or luncheon awaiting us, in 
which the greatest rarity to me was a fruit called Barbadoes 
cherry. About four we took our leave, much gratified by the 
intelligence and urbanity of our host. 
It was the eve of New Year’s Bay, a season of general fes¬ 
tivity here, and of this we soon perceived various indications. 
As we travelled along, I could not help noticing the activity 
with which coloured butchers, male and female, were cutting 
up large pigs and other animals, generally suspended from 
the branch of a large tamarind tree, by the road-side; while 
crowds were gathered round, either admiring the carcase, or 
waiting for a portion of it. We also met many a toil-worn 
beast, horse, donkey, or mule, drawing out a whole Creole 
family, father, mother, children, and servant, to some country 
cousin’s, for the coming holiday. 
Some of the Indian huts were already ornamented in honour 
of the new year with strings of flowers hung along the front 
of the verandahs,—for almost every hut, however small, can 
boast a verandah. In one place, I saw an Indian under a tree 
with a number of strings of flowers for sale. The flowers 
seemed to be the orange-coloured Allamanda Schottii, and a 
fragrant Plumeria, very abundant just now. Several parties 
were examining the flowers; and the vender was stretching 
out his arms just as we were passing by, so as to show one of 
his wreaths to the best advantage. But the most gratifying 
of all these sights to me were the New Year’s gifts, which 
nearly every one seemed to be carrying home. Some miles 
before we reached Port Louis, we passed young or middle- 
aged Creole men and women bearing on their heads the 
baskets in which, in the morning, they had carried their fruit. 
