The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-14
LETTER FROM AsPINWALL.


last letter the birds of Panama were spoken
of, and now pass to the animals, the diff
ferent species of which are not numerous,
especially the domesticated ones, OF the
latter class, the "goats" are by far in the
preponderance. Every family in town, no
matter how poor may be, own a flock
of goats, from one to forty or more
in number. They are to be seen every
where, and no place is free from them.
The air is full of music, most of the time,
which is caused by their bleatlngs, and
they are without.any exception as class
the homelest goats to be seen anywhere.
They are kept for two purposes, for their
milk and for food, goat meat passing for,
or being called by the natives, mutton. 1t
is not much like the mutton we got at
home, and people quickly learn to re-
fuse it when offered 1T dinner. ] hardly
know whether or not to class the next
under the head of an animal | refer To
what are called ''sand crabs" which are
one of the institutions of the island. The
first day here, while on my way to the
Washington house, hundreds of holes were
seen in the ground and was at loss to
make out what they were or what inhabi-
ted them. Some Of the holes were several
inches in diameter, while others were quite
small. Upon inqu.ring, it was replied that
they we're "crab holes" 1t was several
days before one was seen, although on the
look out for them. AT last the wish was
gratified, and then came the wish that it
could be perfectly described. They are
different from any other crab. The body
is almost round, the legs are all on one
side, (and in addition they are provided
with one large claw something like a lob
ster) and they can travel one way as well
as another. They are found in different
colors and some of them are quite hand
some. They are not fit TO eat, but their
holes are of great service during the rainy
season, as drains to carry off water
OF the dogs and swine that are found
here, and in large numbers also, it can only
be said that they are of the homiest,
poorest and meanest looking kind. They
fairly abound in swarms, as it were, which
probably accounts IN some measure for
their being so, Horses are very seldom
seen here, and what few there are are of
the small kind generally called "Spanish
mustangs" The agent of one of the lines
of steamers running here has small pony
which he ir;tohos to light phaeton, and
with that exception | have not seen a
wagon in town. The hauling is done with
two or three mules and carts owned by the
Panama railroad, and by negroes with two
wheeled trucks. Horses, not larger than
two year old colt at home, come into
town in the morning with packs on their
backs that really look larger than the
horse itself. The pack is made of wood
and built Just as we build saw horse at
home. This is strapped on the back and
then loaded with bananas, cocoa nuts and
a little Of everything, almost, that grows
here in front being woman or a boy,
and IN this way they come to market. Cat
lie are quite abundant, but of a far different
quality from those in Vermont. They are
longer, are most of them of creamy color,
the horns being quite long. Judging from
personal experience it is doubtful whether
the COWS give any milk or not, as we have
had none since here, and as for eating pur
poses. well, the meat, as far as toughness
is concerned, would match well with some
bought in Vermont markets for the mod
crate price of twenty cents pound.
There is one popularity connected with
the hens and turkeys here that is beyond
comprehension. l have puzzled myself a
number of times trying to solve the mys-
terry, and so have five other persons to my
certain knowledge, that is, how do they
come to have so many legs and wings !?
We have chicken Cor, more properly speak
ing, old hem or turkey nearly every day,
and six boarders, who sit at one table get
either all legs or all wings, for several
successive meals. AT last we bolted, think
ing we were well enough supplied for the
present with food of that kind and since
Then have been eating beef and OCCASION
ally turtle outlets. What would the peo-
pie of Burlington think to have the arrival
of schooner laden with turtles chroniclcd,
and the cargo to consist of only one. Such
has been the case here, and Nermonters
would like to see that turtle. 1t was
monster, weighing way up in the hundreds,
and yet it was not considered much of a
day for turtles either. 1t was about half
as large as the table in THE GLOBE editor
ial rooms and as it laid on its back on the
beach it was really novel sight. Turtle
outlets are quite good eating and very much
relished by the people here.
For wild animals, have seen tiger cats
beautiful animal, mountain hogs, slotbs,
which are very common others, young
deer, and some others not worthy of men
ton. lien there are monkeys, and chin
paranze, a species of monky. Of them !
have nothing to say only that they are fear
fully homely. much more so than those
from any other portion of the world.
Nearly every species of tree generally
found in tropical climate abounds here.
First on the list are the cocoanut trees, which
are among the most prominent. They gen
orally grow to heighth or from fifty to
seventy-five feet the branches or leaves not
shooting out until within about ten feet of
the top. Branches are seen that are twenty
feet long. The leaves are quite long near
the tree, and very narrow These branches
are very thick, and at the point where they
shoot out from the tree, the cocoanuts are
found. They are very prolific and bear all
the time during the year. On some Of the
trees, in the yard at the house, have
counted ten different sizes Of cocoanuts
from the size of buttcrnut up TO some as
large as pretty good sized squash. The
nuts are encased in very thick covering,
inside OF that being the fibre, then the nut.
before they are ripe, person can cut
through one at any place with knife, and
then they are frequently gathered for the
purpose OF getting the milk which makes n
very nice drink. Last Sunday afternoon
MIR. Deming and thought we would have
one, SO calling "culled person" we asked
him If he could climb tree and get MS one,
''fes boss was the reply. 1t was one
of the tallest trees in the yard, at least fiftv
feet to the branches, but that was notb,ng.
taking off bis shnea he nrenaral - -. 2,