"Harmless, I believe," said I; "but by no means delicate.

Its great value to savage nations consists in the shell, which they use to contain their food, and drink, and even cook in it." Fritz could not comprehend how they could cook in the shell without burning it.

I told him the shell was not placed on the fire; but, being filled with cold water, and the fish or meat placed in it, red-hot stones are, by degrees, introduced into the water, till it attains sufficient heat to cook the food, without injuring the vessel.

We then set about making our dishes and plates.

I showed Fritz a better plan of dividing the gourd than with a knife.