"But I have, William. It is what they call the bird's-eye pepper; they
make Cayenne pepper out of it. Look, the pods are just formed; it will
be useful to us in cooking, as we have no pepper left. You see,
William, we must have some birds on the island; at least it is most
probable, for all the seeds of these plants and trees must have been
brought here by them. The banana and the pepper are the food of many
birds. What a quantity of bananas are springing up in this spot; there
will be a little forest of them in a few weeks."
"What is that rough-looking sort of shrub out there, Ready?"
"I can't see so well as you, William, so let us walk up to it. Oh, I
know it now; it is what they call the prickly pear in the West Indies.
I am very glad to have found that, for it will be very useful to us."
"Is it good eating, Ready?"
"Not particularly; and the little spikes run into your fingers, and are
very difficult to get rid of; but it is not bad by way of a change. No,
the use it will be to us is to hedge in our garden, and protect it from
the animals; it makes a capital fence, and grows very fast, and without
trouble. Now let us go on to that patch of trees, and see what they
are.
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