"I think it must come from the trees that have the beautiful pale blue flowers. Wait until I get a branch."
One of the men was quick to carry out Harry's wish. John was immensely pleased at the interest which the boys exhibited. "What does it smell like?" he inquired.
"Something like cloves and cinnamon, both," answered George.
"That is correct. It is the real cinnamon tree. It is the cassia of the Bible, one of the spices so frequently referred to in Scripture. The bark only is used, but the species which have fruit, are gathered and oil expressed from them, which is called _cinnamon suet_."
Advancing, the surface became more rugged. They had to cross numerous gullies, and broken portions, and frequently jagged rocks would show themselves. Evidently when the island was raised up from the sea the rocks were forced through, and the climate in time disintegrated them, and formed a soil.
"Do you think we shall find any minerals here?" asked Harry.
"If we are to judge from our experiences on Wonder Island, where there is almost exactly the same formation, we may reasonably expect to find copper and also iron here."
"While Harry and I were over at the bluff with Uraso, we saw something like green drippings, from the walls."
"That is, undoubtedly, copper,--that is the sulphate form, in which it is usually found."
"I was amused at Laleo (the native guide), who told Uraso this morning that our mission would be successful, and when he was asked why, answered, that the first thing they saw was three black birds. How superstitious these people are."
"Do you think they are any more so than civilized people?" answered John. "It is curious how the number three runs through all their ideas. In certain parts of England they have a great many omens, and one of them is that if the traveler, starting on a journey, meets three magpies, it means success; if two appears, it is a sign of marriage; and four unexpected good news."
"I recall that it is considered lucky for sun to shine on a bride," added Harry.
"The other part of that couplet is 'rain on a corpse,'" remarked John.
"I never knew it was lucky for the corpse to be rained on," responded Harry, in a questioning tone.
John laughed immoderately, as he answered: "Well, it might not be lucky for the corpse. But there are numerous lucky and unlucky signs that no one can account for, prevalent in our own country, such as putting on stockings wrong side out, and finding a horseshoe."