CHAPTER XIV.
We had been much delighted with the new and lovely scenery of our road: the prickly cactus, and aloe, with its white flowers; the Indian fig; the white and yellow jasmine; the fragrant vanilla, throwing round its graceful festoons. Above all, the regal pine-apple grew in profusion, and we feasted on it, for the first time, with avidity.
Among the prickly stalks of the cactus and aloes, I perceived a plant with large pointed leaves, which I knew to be the karata. I pointed out to the boys its beautiful red flowers; the leaves are an excellent application to wounds, and thread is made from the filaments, and the pith of the stem is used by the savage tribes for tinder.
When I showed the boys, by experiment, the use of the pith, they thought the tinder-tree would be almost as useful as the potatoes.
"At all events," I said, "it will be more useful than the pine-apples; your mother will be thankful for thread, when her enchanted bag is exhausted."
"How happy it is for us," said she, "that you have devoted yourself to reading and study. In our ignorance we might have passed this treasure, without suspecting its value."
Fritz inquired of what use in the world all the rest of these prickly plants could be, which wounded every one that came near.
"All these have their use, Fritz," said I; "some contain juices and gums, which are daily made
