madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第49章
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grows a little sort of lily； which is found I believe in Brittany； and on the
Spanish and Portuguese heaths； and even in North…west Africa。 And that
Africa and Spain were joined not so very long ago at the Straits of
Gibraltar there is no doubt at all。
But where did the Mediterranean Sea run out then？
Perhaps it did not run out at all； but was a salt…water lake； like the
Caspian； or the Dead Sea。 Perhaps it ran out over what is now the Sahara；
the great desert of sand； for； that was a sea…bottom not long ago。
But then； how was this land of Atlantis joined to the Cape of Good
Hope？
I cannot say how； or when either。 But this is plain： the place in the
world where the most beautiful heaths grow is the Cape of Good Hope？
You know I showed you Cape heaths once at the nursery gardener's at
home。
Oh yes； pink； and yellow； and white； so much larger than ours。
Then it seems （I only say it seems） as if there must have been some
land once to the westward； from which the different sorts of heath spread
south…eastward to the Cape； and north…eastward into Europe。 And that
they came north…eastward into Europe seems certain； for there are no
heaths in America or Asia。
But how north…eastward？
Think。 Stand with your face to the south and think。 If a thing
comes from the south…westfrom there； it must go to the north… east…
towards there。 Must it not？
Oh yes； I see。
Now thenThe farther you go south…west； towards Spain； the more
kinds of heath there are； and the handsomer； as if their original home；
from which they started； was somewhere down there。
More sorts！ What sorts？
How many sorts of heath have we at home？
Three； of course： ling； and purple heath； and bottle heath。
And there are no more in all England； or Wales； or Scotland； except
Now； listen。 In the very farthest end of Cornwall there are two more
sorts； the Cornish heath and the Orange…bell； and they say （though I never
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saw it） that the Orange…bell grows near Bournemouth。
Well。 That is south and west too。
So it is： but that makes five heaths。 Now in the south and west of
Ireland all these five heaths grow； and two more： the great Irish heath；
with purple bells； and the Mediterranean heath； which flowers in spring。
Oh； I know them。 They grow in the Rhododendron beds at home。
Of course。 Now again。 If you went down to Spain； you would find
all those seven heaths； and other sorts with them； and those which are rare
in England and Ireland are common there。 About Biarritz； on the Spanish
frontier； all the moors are covered with Cornish heath； and the bogs with
Orange…bell； and lovely they are to see； and growing among them is a tall
heath six feet high； which they call there bruyere； or Broomheath； because
they make brooms of it： and out of its roots the 〃briar…root〃 pipes are made。
There are other heaths about that country； too； whose names I do not know；
so that when you are there； you fancy yourself in the very home of the
heaths： but you are not。 They must have come from some land near
where the Azores are now； or how could heaths have got past Africa； and
the tropics； to the Cape of Good Hope？
It seems very wonderful； to be able to find out that there was a great
land once in the ocean all by a few little heaths。
Not by them only； child。 There are many other plants； and animals
too； which make one think that so it must have been。 And now I will tell
you something stranger still。 There may have been a timesome people
say that there mustwhen Africa and South America were joined by land。
Africa and South America！ Was that before the heaths came here； or
after？
I cannot tell： but I think； probably after。 But this is certain； that
there must have been a time when figs； and bamboos； and palms； and
sarsaparillas； and many other sorts of plants could get from Africa to
America； or the other way； and indeed almost round the world。 About the
south of France and Italy you will see one beautiful sarsaparilla； with
hooked prickles； zigzagging and twining about over rocks and ruins；
trunks and stems： and when you do； if you have understanding； it will
seem as strange to you as it did to me to remember that the home of the
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sarsaparillas is not in Europe； but in the forests of Brazil； and the River
Plate。
Oh； I have heard about their growing there； and staining the rivers
brown； and making them good medicine to drink： but I never thought
there were any in Europe。
There are only one or two； and how they got there is a marvel indeed。
But now If there was not dry land between Africa and South America；
how did the cats get into America？ For they cannot swim。
Cats？ People might have brought them over。
Jaguars and Pumas； which you read of in Captain Mayne Reid's books；
are cats； and so are the Ocelots or tiger cats。
Oh； I saw them at the Zoological Gardens。
But no one would bring them over； I should think； except to put them
in the Zoo。
Not unless they were very foolish。
And much stronger and cleverer than the savages of South America。
No； those jaguars and pumus have been in America for ages： and there
are those who will tell youand I think they have some reason on their
sidethat the jaguar； with his round patches of spots； was once very much
the same as the African and Indian leopard； who can climb trees well。 So
when he got into the tropic forests of America； he took to the trees； and
lived among the branches； feeding on sloths and monkeys； and never
coming to the ground for weeks； till he grew fatter and stronger and far
more terrible than his forefathers。 And they will tell you； too； that the
puma was； perhapsI only say perhapssomething like the lion； who （you
know） has no spots。 But when he got into the forests； he found very little
food under the trees； only a very few deer； and so he was starved； and
dwindled down to the poor little sheep…stealing rogue he is now； of whom
nobody is afraid。
Oh； yes！ I remember now A。 said he and his men killed six in one
day。 But do you think it is all true about the pumas and jaguars？
My child； I don't say that it is true： but only that it is likely to be true。
In science we must be cautious and modest； and ready to alter our minds
whenever we learn fresh facts； only keeping sure of one thing； that the
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truth； when we find it out； will be far more wonderful than any notions of
ours。 See！ As we have been talking we have got
