ion, and an inclosure where both goats and pigs lived on
good terms with each other. The situation appeared somewhat dull to us;
but in the tropics the absence of sunshine is sufficient to give a
sombre look to the most beautiful landscape.

Lucien wanted to pay a visit to the tobacco-field. The stems of this
plant are more than three feet high, covered with wide leaves of a
dark-green color. The flowers, some of which were pink and others a
yellowish hue, indicated two different species; their acrid smell was
any thing but pleasant. Lucien was not a little surprised to learn that
this beautiful _vegetable_ belonged to the same botanical family as the
potato, the tomato, the egg-plant, and the pimento.

"Among the ancient Aztecs," said Sumichrast, "tobacco was called
_pycietl_; it was the emblem of the goddess Cihua-cohuatl, or
woman-serpent.[E] In Mexican mythology, this divinity was supposed to be
the first mother of children; and, in the legend about her, the European
missionaries fancied that they recognized some features resembling the
sacred history of Eve. Up to the present time, the Indians, who have
renounced the errors of paganism and profess the Christian religion,
continue to make use of the plant consecrated to their ancient goddess,
as a remedy for the sting of venomous reptiles."

"Then that is why they cultivate tobacco," said Lucien, "for I know that
they seldom smoke."

"No, but they sell their crops of it to the Creoles, among whom smoking
is a universal habit. It is said that the word _tobacco_ comes from the
name of the island of Tabago, where the Spaniards first discovered it.
About the year 1560, it was introduced into France by Jean Nicot, who
gave it his own name; for _savants_ call this plant _nicotian_. It is a
certain fact that the modern Mexican Indians smoke hardly any thing but
cigars or cigarettes. As for pipes, they have not long known of the
existence of such things; and the works of certain romancers, who so
often describe the Aztecs as having the pipe of peace, war, or council
constantly in their mouths, are simply ridiculous. You may recollect
how astonished the French were, on their arrival here, to find they
could not procure any cut tobacco; while on the other hand the Indians
crowded to see the foreigners inhale the smoke of the plant from
instruments made of clay, wood, or porcelain."[F]

"I remember," cried Lucien, "that one day l'Encuerado took a pipe
belonging to an offi