Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01
The GaguS Stalk.

do YOU know what that Isl" said the CAPTAIN
OF a bark lately returned from O cruise in the
southern seas to San Francisco Tall reporter
who was providing around the water front in
search OF items. He held in his hand what ap-
peare6 to be gaudily painted BARRIERS pole
shrunken to the size of a poll, aman's club The
reporter surveyed the object curiously and adj
| mitted that he could not guess what 1t was
That" continued the skipper, taking the
nondescript object from the reporters hands
and caressing it as though it was q kitten, 'iS
piece of gagus stalk. 1t came from Gauptil
Island. near the Molucca group. I have nayi-
gated the south seas for many years and never
saw 1t growing upon any other island. and
don't think you will ind any seafaring man
who balls from those waters but will bear out
what say.'
''6ut what Is it1" questioned the reporter.
cycling the curiosity. "Gagus root!"
YES. that's as Eear as we sailors can get to
what the natives there call it. I've heard these
four-eyed scientific lubbers call it by name q
yarc long. but might as well have tried to reef
mansall alone as to reel it around my mental
windlass. Gagus is good enough for me-
WHO painted itS' went on the reporter. a
suspicion breeding into his mind that the cap
tain had Ornamented it with color for the pur-
pose Of selling it to some democrat to put In his
hat.
Painted it Why, jIoger me. that's tie
way it grew" cried the skipper with a laugh
Il guess You haven't seen anything like it
before"
The reporter admitted that he had not. and
asked the captain to dissipate at once the cloud
OF mystery surrounding the ''gagus"
1T IS species OF cactus" he explained and,
as L said. grows only. to my knowledge on
Gauptil island. The island is small one. but
Is Well populated by natives OF the Malay race
In the interior this plant grows Wild fourishing
especially in the red rocky soil. 1t LOOKS beau
tiful when growing. as you might Judge BY the
bright hues with which this is spotted The
main stalk is covered with sharp. nettle-like
prOtuberances, and prick from one OF them
Will cause more pain than O handful of red pen.
per thrown in your eyes. When young the
plant consists OF but one stalk which shoots up
straight to height of four or five feet. 1t is a
brilliant scarlet in hue. Towards winter num-
Der OF ohshoots spring out Until the thing looks
like broom stood upright. Green ana purple,
specks then appear all over it. grove Of
gagus shrubs is very pretty sight. But il is
the properties OF the plant which distinguish II.
Opium is potent drug, but 1 will back the
extract from the gagus stalk TO effect more
damage on the human system than all the
opium in the world. The natives cut the plant
in the early spring. After they have gathered
sufficient quantity they put it n large bowls
and crush it with huge stones. A grayish sap
runs out freely, and this they collect and drink
after letting it ferment. which it does easily.
One drink of a pint is enough for an ordinary
| man. but l have seen natives drink more
Within half an hour after imbbng il the
drinker becomes perfectly stupid and les
around like @ log. The spell lasts day or
| more. during which time the natives say they
live In paradise"
do white men drink it,
Il have known sailors to try IL, but they
neTer tackled it twice. Three years ago had
man In my crew who was driven crazy by one
| drink"
What effect does It have upon the uatives?'
'Well, that is where the gagus displays itself
| If you could see some of the terrible examples
OF gagus drinking In Gauptin you would be hor-
rihed The first effect OF the liquor is to soften
| the bones and gradually eat them away. There
are natives there, the victims of gagus, who are
| indeed boneiess and unable to walk or use their
| limbs They then Degin to wither away like
this stalk until they die in misery and convul-
/ sions. Immediately after death the head OF the
corpse becomes 3 soft as pulp no bones can be
| felt; the skull Is completely eaten away. The
| body then begins to swell as though 1t were In
! iated with gas and immediate burial is neces-
sary."
/ How long does it take to thus devastate a
human beingf" asked the reporter
THAT is according to the appetite of the VIC
tim to the stuff. Usually two years will finish
/ the hardest man. Oh. the sufferinQs OF the
slaves TO the drink are terrible
! The piece Of plant was again subjected to an
inspection by the reporter, and this time with
| some manifest interest
| You see it is hard" said the captain. drop
| ping Il on the deck to prove his words; land
this Is harmless unless, I presume, it was
soaked in water and the liquor drank"
Governor Cieveland's Invitations and
! Presents
Gov Cleveland continues to receive scores OF
invitations to attend bsrquets. receptions and
celebrations, among which Is q very pressing
one to be the guest Of the New England club Of
/ Boston at Its banquet concentrating Fore.
fathers Day. on December 22d. He was waited
upon in Albany Saturday by delegation fron
the Actors Fund society OF New York city, and
| invited to attend the annual performance fol
the benefit of the fund to be giver at the Acad.
envy Of Music next Thursday afternoon. The
governor replied that he had been compelled to
decline many invitations Of many kinds; but he
appreciated the always-ready generosity of &C
tors when other people were In trouble and al
this Was the only charity the actors had fol
themselves he would accept the invitation. Pres.
ident Arthur, Mayor Edison, Mayor-elect Grace
and other prominent gentlemen will be invited
| Up to the present time Governor Cleveland has
received about thirty canes. Newfoundland
pup, sent to him from Brooklyn, has been re.
turned with thanka