The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-09-20


backed by forests. On shore might be
seen now and then an alligator basking in
the sun, resembling in appearance large
sow. Overhead were passing Aocks of
wild ducks and screaming parrots, while
farther up might be traced the vulure or
turkey buzzard, gracefully soaring, on
the watch perhaps for some dying animal
to breathe his last. At times we could
catch glimpse of some chattering mon
keys leaping from tree to tree, but our
approach was signal for their retreat
The sloIh, who Is never in particular
hurry, would scarcely turn his head, even
when a stone was thrown among the
branches in his neighborhood. In fact
these ANNALS largely formed body will
not allow them 20 fall after being shot,
Their long nails entering the bark Of the
tree, hold on even in death. But while
am shooting sloihs, our canoe is made
fast to the mangroves, and the blacks are
at work with their breakfast. 1t is inter-
esting to observe the mechanical way they
set about this all important business
Each one unroIs his rag in which is his
days ration Of dried fish or beef in this
instance already roasted, his rice and
Itdriaha [ a kind of very coarse meal made
from the m0UdiOca or cassaya root, used
instead of bread. Depositing his share
Of rice in a pot Of water boiling over the
fire, he may soon take his share Of min
gao or Cruel from said pot. This serves
for coffee. Then seated with a piece of
fish in one hand, the other fail of jarinha,
and his calabash Of mingao before him, |
defy any one to show happier being
than this same niger.
Meanwhile, we under the toldO, were
treated with coffee, and our store of cold
fowl, &c, overhauled to some effect
After feeding, all hands lii up their black
pipes, and we for self defence, segarS, in
which smoking condition the canoe was
again got under weigh. Nothing special
occurring, the scenery being the same, a
succession of plantations and forests, at
noon we duly arrived at our destination.
We found Senior Angelca's family.
like himself, very hosplable and very
talkative. After dinner we were shown
over the place, and entering the neighbour
ing forest, we were shown the caouehouc
tree. They grow, in general, to the
heigh, of forty or fifty feet without bran
ches. then branching. run IN fifteen feet
higher. The leaf is about Six inches long
thin, and shaped like that of a peach
tree. The trees show their working by
the number of knots, or lunches made By
tapping; and singular fact is, that like
a COW. when most tapped, they rive most
milk or sap.
As the time Of operation is early day,
we were obliged to content ourselves with
viewing the utensils and mouIds used by
the shoumakers, awaiting until the next
morning to see the ul0dus ODcraadi.-|
Accordingly before sunrise we were on
hand. The blacks are first sent through
the forest, armed with a quantity of soft
clay, and a small pickaxe. On coming
to me Of the trees, portion of the soft
clay is formed into a cup and stuck to the
trunk. The black then striking his pick
over the cup, the sap oozes out slowly
a tree giving daily about Gill. The tap
per continues in this way, tapping per.
haps fifty trees when he returns, and with
a lar passinG over the same ground. emn-
ties his cups. So by seven o'clock the
blacks came in with their lars, ready for
working.
The sap at this stage, resembling milk
in appearance, and somewhat in TASTE
1t is also frequently drank with perfect
safety If left standing now, it will cur
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