The Sultan kept them in his palace, and to celebrate their triumph fed them for several weeks on fish alone.

After a few days they were again submitted to the ordeal of the
odalisques, and.........

In the present state of our knowledge, it is probable that if the course of events were to establish any monastic order, the superiors would adopt some regimen better calculated to maintain its objects.

Philosophical reflection.

Fish, considered in general, is an inexhaustible source of reflection to the philosopher.

The varied forms of these strange animals, the senses they are deprived of, and the limited nature of those they have, their various modes of existence, the influence exerted over them by the medium in which they live, move, and breathe, extend the range of our ideas and the indefinite modifications which result from their nature, motions and lives.

For my part, I entertain to them a sentiment very like respect, resulting from my belief that they belong to antediluvian races.  The great convulsion which doomed our ancestors, in the eighteenth century of the world, to fish was a season of joy, triumph and festivity.

Section VII.  Truffles.

Who ever says truffle, pronounces a great word, which awakens eratic and gourmand ideas both in the sex dressed in petticoats and in the bearded portion of humanity.

This honorable duplication results from the fact that the tubercle is not only delicious to the taste, but that it excites a power the exercise of which is accompanied by the most delicious pleasures.

The origin of the truffle is unknown; they are found, but none know how they vegetate.  The most learned men have sought to ascertain the secret, and fancied they discovered the seed.  Their promises, however, were vain, and no planting was ever followed by a harvest.  This perhaps is all right, for as one of the great values of truffles is their dearness, perhaps they would be less highly esteemed if they were cheaper.

“Rejoice, my friend,” said I, “a superb lace is about to be manufactured at a very low price.”

“Ah!” replied she, “think you, if it be cheap, that any one would wear it?”

ERATIC virtue of truffles.

The Romans were well acquainted with the truffle, but I do not think they were acquainted with the French variety.  Those which were their delight were obtained from Greece and Africa, and especially from Libia.  The substance was pale, tinged with rose, and the Libian truffles were sought for as being far the most delicate and highly perfumed.

......  “Gustus elementa per omnia quaerunt.”  Juvenal.

From the Romans to our own time, there was a long interregnum, and the resurrection of truffles is an event of recent occurrence.  I have read many old books, in which there is no allusion to them.  The generation for which I write may almost be said to witness its resurrection.