The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-03-09

extend down tie trunk Tor several feet, and are
longer and broader than the Others sometimes
reaching ten or twelve feet in lena tn and two or
three feet in breadth. The fruit grows in large
clusters hear the attachment OF the lower leaves
Upen some of the trees counted over twenty
full grown eocoanuts. On othels observed the
fruit IN various stages of growth from the size oi
an egg to five or six inches in di meter and seven
inches long. The milk of the green eocoanut is
very pleasant sub-acld, and i, much steemed
as cooling drink like lemonade, and much ,hc
!irge-t proportion OF the f,uit is used for this
purpose Us 1t becomes mOIe IN ,tur' Z e milk
loses The lid aud acquires sickisn SNe ct flavor
cer'tniy not grateful to the palate at least of the
uninitiated. 1t seemed 10 me very remarkAb
thst while these trees scanned almost al Of very
nearly the same size they varied much ip hi II.
~uma zen three or iuDr times as Il rs others.
They ars often observed in clusters abound the
dwellings,, an9 seem to receive s,me care aud
cuiiNge. ioyEe,. il vain fer field of pine ap.
pies, Tor | was told should zee them in album
dance, and was more anxious TO St, them grow
az tn-I ANY other tropios! production. Some
orange groves were eeen buc not many. The ba.
n.-.a seems to Receive more cation Tor We ssn
Il. ny large plantations OF tA,m, in some OF
which tue trees OK plants were but few lee,
high and no doub5 l.tely planted. i ais Ire. is
propasa.ed by clipping tuberous shoot from the
main root near the surface Of the ground, which
III three years grows to bearing, although it is
much more productive when ten or twelve ears
old. L wss informed that banana tree bears
but one cluster of fruit at time, but some OF
these are OF enormous size, as You have 10 doubt
they are always green, and subse quently ripen
to the rich yellow shade. love bananas
Our courSs for fifty miles VS. south. which
took US into within ten miles of the south side
OF the island. There We change cars for M4tan-
zas, 80 miles distant in northeast direction.
AT this station We got cup OF coffee, which
sIrene theaed the inner III N SONS what. We saw
TO coffee plantations on the Route
We reached Matauzas $40 A. NJ aud took cabs
for Prati's Hotel, which took Us over ali a mile
through the town to the very shores Of tho bay,
where we were met by mine host, who is IN Eu-
LTnuao th'ue'. long rss!1enI L--e We or
dered yoiaa,ss to be got ready while " GOT our
breakfasts.
MataDzas Is tiae export soTE CT sly twenty
thousand inhabitants. Most OF I'll. streets are ..
good width and in tolera6Ie order. L. is situated
at Che head Of the bay OF that name. Oh Ia, north
size OF the island about fifty five miles east Of
Havana. The bay is spacious, ..Oeut five miles
deep and good entrance. NJ docks are built
for the convenience Of oau-me.rs, 50 ve-. hive
TO anchor ont IL the h-y so unload ard TO-
with lighters Last AnsGsrt hurric.uc, which
raised the water 90 an i!umeuse hei. 1T. Glo,.
vtssels up into the streets, tore down house. -
HtToyed the bridges, and m'de quite t. r..-. /,
the lower part OF the town. Many livss ut..
lost
little after nine o'clock We sat down TO
breakfast eith thu fsmly and guests OF the mouse,