He referred to
other colonies whose inhabitants belong to the same race--"
"Bah, jealousy! Ask Senor Laruja, who also knows this country. Ask him
if there is any equal to the ignorance and indolence of the Indian."
"It's true," affirmed the little man, who was referred to as Senor
Laruja. "In no part of the world can you find any one more indolent
than the Indian, in no part of the world."
"Nor more vicious, nor more ungrateful!"
"Nor more unmannerly!"
The rubicund youth began to glance about nervously. "Gentlemen," he
whispered, "I believe that we are in the house of an Indian. Those
young ladies--"
"Bah, don't be so apprehensive! Santiago doesn't consider himself an
Indian--and besides, he's not here. And what if he were! These are
the nonsensical ideas of the newcomers. Let a few months pass and you
will change your opinion, after you have attended a lot of fiestas
and bailuhan, slept on cots, and eaten your fill of tinola."
"Ah, is this thing that you call tinola a variety of lotus which
makes people--er--forgetful?"
"Nothing of the kind!" exclaimed Fray Damaso with a smile.
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