Theyhavebeeninformedbytheirsenseofsmell，atagreatdistanceallaround，whereasImyselfcanavoidthestenchbytakingafewstepsback。Comparedwiththeirscent，mineiscontemptible；butstill，intheircaseaswellasmine，thereisreallyherewhatourlanguagecallsasmell。
IcandobetterstillwiththeflowerofthedragonarumArumdracunculus，soremarkableforitsshapeandforitsunequalledstench。Imagineawide，lanceolateblade，ofaclaretypurple，halfayardlongandrolledbelowintoanovoidpouchthesizeofahen’segg。Throughtheopeningofthiswalletrisesacentralcolumnspringingfromthebottom，along，bright-greenclub，encircledatitsbasebytwobracelets，oneofovaries，theotherofstamens。Such，brieflydescribed，istheflower，orrathertheinflorescence，ofthedragonarum。
Fortwodaysitexhalesafrightfulstenchofcarrion，worsethantheproximityofadeadDogwouldyield。Duringthehottestpartoftheday，withawindblowing，itisloathsome，unbearable。Letusbravetheinfectedatmosphereandgouptoit；weshallbeholdacurioussight。
Informedbythefoulodour，whichspreadsfarandwide，variousinsectscomeflyingalong，suchinsectsasmakesausage-meatofsmallcorpses——Toads，Adders，Lizards，Hedgehogs，Moles，Field-mice——whichthehusbandmanhitswithhisspadeandflingsawaydisembowelledonthefoot-path。Theyswoopdownuponthegreatleaf，which，withitslividpurple，lookslikeastripofmeatgonebad；theycaperabout，intoxicatedbythesmellofcorpsewhichtheylove；theyrolldowntheslopeandareswallowedupinthepurse。Afterafewhoursofbrightsunshine，thereceptacleisfull。
Letuslookinside，throughthenarrowopening。Noelsewherecouldyouseesuchacrowd。Itisamadwhirlofbacksandbellies，ofwing-casesandlegs，swarming，rollingoverandover，amidthesnapofinterlockedjoints，risingandfalling，floatingandsinking，seethingandbubblingwithoutend。Itisadrunkenrevel，anepidemicofdeliriumtremens。