The mass of delicate green foliage above was compact, vigorous, and beautiful.

Many years ago Humboldt cut a rectangular piece of bark from the old trunk and on the smooth surface thus exposed carved an inscription with his name.
[Illustration] [Illustration] Bark has since grown over the sides and corners of this tablet, but much of the inscription may still be read.

Since Humboldt's visit many lesser men have gashed the old tree to leave their mark.
As it was now darkening we hurried to the _meson_ of the village.

The old lady in charge received us with suspicion; she could not feed us and refused to receive us into the house for the night; she would permit us to sleep outside, in the corridor--which we might have done without asking permission.

At this moment, the doctor's friend remembered that he knew a man here and went out to reconnoitre; he soon returned and led us to his friend's house, where we were well received.