Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/178



tall Q^rasses  and  tano-lecl  shrubbery  throua;h  which wild beasts  with  difficulty  force  their  way. What in our  colder  climes  are  rare  exotics,  here  riot  in  the open air,  bursting  with  exuberance. Innumerable flowers of  every  hue  gild  the  landscape  ;  the  tiny  blos- soms of the  north  spread  out  in  flaming  proportions,  or assume  shapes  in  which  they  almost  lose  their  iden- tity, while innumerable  species  unknown  to  the  north- ern naturalist abound  in  rank  profusion. Chief among these, and  one  of  the  most  remarkable  that  blooms  in any  clime,  is  the  Flor  del  Espiritu  santo,  the  flower  of the  holy  ghost. Lifting its  graceful  form  from  marshy pools and  decayed  logs  to  a  height  sometimes  of  six or seven  feet,  it  throws  out  broad  lanceolate  leaves by pairs  from  jointed  leaf-stalks,  while  on  a  leafless flower-stalk springing  from  the  bulb  are  sometimes ten or  fifteen  tulip-shaped  blossoms  of  alabaster  white- ness, and powerful  magnolia  perfume,  enfolding  with- in their tiny  cups  the  prone  image  of  a  dove,  formed in such  consummate  grace  and  symmetry  as  no  art could approach. And with  this  emblem  of  innocence and celestrial  purity  rising  from  a  sensual  paradise; with its  gentle  head  bent  meekly  forward,  its  exquis- itely shaped pinions  hanging  listlessly  by  its  sides,  its tiny bill,  tipped  with  delicate  carmine,  almost  resting on its  snow-white  breast,  in  form  and  feature  the  very incarnation of  ethereal  innocence — shall  we  blame  the early priests  for  pointing  the  poor  natives  to  this flower, and  telling  them  God  is  here  ?

Palm trees  of  various  descriptions  line  the  banks, and gorgeous  water  lilies  dip  their  fragrant  heads  as the  boat  passes  over  them. Every shower  of  rain  is like  the  sprinkling  of  perfume  on  the  vegetation. Birds of  richly  painted  plumage  and  shrill  song  illum- inate the forest;  the  dark,  scarlet-breasted  toucan, which tosses  its  food  from  its  long  serrated  beak  into the air  and  catches  it  in  its  throat,  and  in  drinking,  as the  padres  say,  makes  the  sign  of  the  cross,  whence they call  it  Dios  te  de,  (May  God  give  thee) ;  scream-