Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/105

Rh forming below it a lofty gothic arch. Thus sometimes will two noble-minded adversaries approach each other and grow together, the nearer they grow towards heaven.

Our road through the whole drive lay between quick hedges consisting, for the most part, of immense aloes, the pointed, thorny leaves of which forbade any approach. I saw in the middle of these plants tall, white and pink spikes of flowers not yet fully blown, and Mr. F. had the kindness to gather two of them for me. They resembled at a distance an immense hyacinth stem; they were the beautiful spike's of the aloe flower, and which afterwards produce a pleasant juicy fruit, with a pine-apple flavour. Here and there an orange-tree shot up in the hedge, as well as that strange candelabra-like plant or tree which I had already observed on the heights around Havanna harbour, but have not learnt either its name or genus. Very unlike were these quick hedges to those of our country fields; they are, however, more odd-looking than really beautiful. We drove home in that clear, gold, and rose-tinted moonlight. I understand that there are many beautiful flowers which bloom only in this light, among which is the night-blowing cereus.

Among the miracles which the sun performs here, that which it performs in the depth of the sea is perhaps the most remarkable. The sun casts his prismatic bow into the deep and colours the fish therewith. I yesterday paid a visit to the fish-market of Havanna, and no stranger in Havanna should fail of seeing this remarkable sight.

The fish glow with all the colours of the rainbow, with the most splendid clearness and distinctness; they are blue, yellow, red; they are edged with gold and violet, gold-tinted, and so on;—it is the most magnificent fish-splendour that any one can imagine. The most beautiful algæ and corals are gathered from the sea around Cuba.

Good Mrs. F. has frequently invited me to accompany her to the opera, but I am so covetous of the air and the