REACHING.--THE PALM-LEAVES.--VEGETABLE BUTTER TREE.

The dwelling so generously put at our disposal was a large shed, divided
into three rooms by bamboo partitions; mats, spread out on the ground,
formed our beds, and the remainder of the furniture consisted of nothing
but two benches. L'Encuerado swept out one of the rooms, and, collecting
some dry palm-leaves, made us a softer resting-place than we had slept
on for the last twenty days. A troop of children--of both sexes, and
perfectly naked--formed a circle round us, and watched our movements
with surprise. I omitted to mention about half a dozen dogs, who were at
first perfectly furious at Gringalet's appearance, but afterwards
contented themselves with growling whenever the intruder came near.

When our baggage had been deposited in the shed, I went and sat down a
few paces from the hut, on a mound overlooking the brook. Sumichrast
soon joined me. Gradually the sun went down, while the children,
previously playing about, went to dip themselves in the beautifully
transparent water. I told Lucien, who was dying to imitate them, to
follow their example. He had hardly taken off his shirt, when the young
Indians, who had watched him undress with evident curiosity, burst out
laughing, and chattered together like so many young paroquets.

"Why do they laugh so when they look at me?" asked Lucien of
l'Encuerado.

"Of course, because of your white skin; what else should it be? They
have never seen a human being of that color before."

"They think it so very ridiculous?" interposed Sumichrast.

"Yes, rather," replied the Indian; "but you must not mind it, Chanito;
for, after all, it is not your fault."

We and the young Indians now laughed in concert; and this incident led
on to a long conversation between Sumichrast and me. L'Encuerado, who,
we had imagined, envied us our white skins, pitied us, in fact; as no
doubt he would himself have been pitied by Nubians, because he was only
copper-colored.

"Why," said Lucien, who came up to us just as the discussion began, "are
not all men the same color? What is the reason of it, M. Sumichrast?"

"It is owing to the influence of the sun, which more or less colors the
pigment of the skin."

"The pigment?"

"Yes; a brown matter which exists under the skin, and gives to it a
shade more or less dark."

"Then Europeans have no pigment?"

"Yes, they have, just like all other races of men; only this matter does
not affec