MARTIN RATTLER. 87

flour, which, under the general name farina, is used
all over the country. It is almost the only food
used by the Indians and Negroes.”

“Then there are Injins and Niggers here, are
there?” inquired Barney.

“Yes, a great many. Most of the Negroes are
slaves; some of the Indians too; and the people who
are descended from the Portuguese who came and
took the country long ago, they are the masters —
Well, the honey I get in holes in the trees. There
are different kinds of honey here; some of it is sour
honey. And the fruits and roots, the plantains, and
bananas, and yams, and cocoa-nuts, and oranges, and
plums, all grow in the forest, and much more besides,
which you will see for yourselves if you stay long
here.”

“Tt’s a quare country, intirely,” remarked Barney,
as he wiped his mouth and heaved a sigh of content-
ment. Then, drawing his hand over his chin, he
looked earnestly in the hermit’s face, and, with a
peculiar twinkle in his eye, said,—

“T s’pose ye couldn’t favour me with the lind of a
raazor, could ye?”

“No, my friend; I never use that foolish weapon.”

“ Ah, well, as there’s only monkeys and jaguars,

and sich like to see me, it don’t much signify; but