"Oh! papa!" said he, "what a singular sight; the fig is covered with a small red insect.

I cannot shake them off.

Can they be the _Cochineal_ ?" I recognized at once the precious insect, of which I explained to my sons the nature and use.

"It is with this insect," said I, "that the beautiful and rich scarlet dye is made.

It is found in America, and the Europeans give its weight in gold for it." Thus discoursing on the wonders of nature, and the necessity of increasing our knowledge by observation and study, we arrived at Tent House, and found it in the same state as we left it.
We all began to collect necessaries.