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CHAP. IV. PREPARATIONS POR THE NEW YEAR’S EE A ST. 95 through a thick grove of mango trees, we visited some chalybeate springs, where the ferruginous colour of the rock and soil around indicated the abundance of iron in the spring. Soon after three in the afternoon, we returned from our walk, and found a very acceptable tiffin or luncheon awaiting us, in which the greatest rarity to me was a fruit called Barbadoes cherry. About four we took our leave, much gratified by the intelligence and urbanity of our host. It was the eve of New Year’s Day, a season of general fes tivity here, and of this we soon perceived various indications. As we travelled along, I could not help noticing the activity with which coloured butchers, male and female, were cutting up large pigs and other animals, generally suspended from the branch of a large tamarind tree, by the road side; while crowds were gathered round, either admiring the animal, or waiting for a portion of it. We also met many a toil-worn beast, horse, donkey, or mule, drawing out a whole Creole family, father, mother, children, and servant, to some country cousin’s, for the coming holiday. Some of the Indian huts were already ornamented in honour of the new year, with strings of flowers hung along the front of the verandahs,—for almost every hut, however small, can boast a verandah. In one place, I saw an Indian under a tree with a number of strings of flowers for sale. The flowers seemed to be the orange-coloured Allamanda Schottii, and a fragrant plumaria, very abundant just now. Several parties were examining the flowers; and the vender was stretching out his arms just as we were passing by, so as to show one of his wreaths to the best advantage. But the most gratifying of all these sights to me were the New Year’s gifts, which nearly every one seemed to be carrying home. Some miles before we reached Port Louis, we passed young or middle- aged Creole men and women bearing on their heads the baskets in which, in the morning, they had carried their fruit,