Таємничий острів

           Oneday,itwassomespecimensofthechicorytribe,theseedsofwhichbypressureyieldanexcellentoil;another,itwassomecommonsorrel,whoseantiscorbuticqualitieswerenottobedespised;then,someofthoseprecioustubers,whichhaveatalltimesbeencultivatedinSouthAmerica,potatoes,ofwhichmorethantwohundredspeciesarenowknown.Thekitchengarden,nowwellstockedandcarefullydefendedfromthebirds,wasdividedintosmallbeds,wheregrewlettuces,kidneypotatoes,sorrel,turnips,radishes,andotherconeiferae.Thesoilontheplateauwasparticularlyfertile,anditwashopedthattheharvestswouldbeabundant.

           Theyhadalsoavarietyofdifferentbeverages,andsolongastheydidnotdemandwine,themosthardtopleasewouldhavehadnoreasontocomplain.TotheOswegotea,andthefermentedliquorextractedfromtherootsofthedragonnier,Hardinghadaddedaregularbeer,madefromtheyoungshootsofthespruce-fir,which,afterhavingbeenboiledandfermented,madethatagreeabledrinkcalledbytheAnglo-Americansspring-beer.

           Towardstheendofthesummer,thepoultry-yardwaspossessedofacoupleoffinebustards,whichbelongedtothehoubaraspecies,characterizedbyasortoffeatherymantle;adozenshovelers,whoseuppermandiblewasprolongedoneachsidebyamembraneousappendage;andalsosomemagnificentcocks,similartotheMozambiquecocks,thecomb,caruncle,andepidermisbeingblack.Sofar,everythinghadsucceeded,thankstotheactivityofthesecourageousandintelligentmen.