The Indianapolis journal., 1885-05-03

the shore we saw the tops OF square inclosures--
turtle kraals. The aldermanc delicacy is sta
pie out here, in SOUP Ia steaks, in croquettes
every way, supplemented by the succulent crab
in like variety. In soup he sustalns his reputa-
tion but the flesh of the turtle is of the consist
ency of rather tough beefsteak without any
perceptible flavor. After three hours SAILING
we reached the mouth Of Manattee river
and transferred ourselves and our effects
again to the row boat. The river is dark and
deep, and on either side stretches away into i'm
passable mangrove thickets Clusters Of smail
oysters hung to the stems above the water: 4
solitary crane meditated upon fallen log, and
through the drowsy silence came the strange
cries of the unmusicar denizens of tropical for
ests. The scene as we turned sudden bend and
entered the lagoon was surpassingiy lovely
Ridge beyond ridge the Coxcombs lifted their
heads into drifting white mist; nearer ths
fronds of the stately cohoon palm and the deli
cate color of many Towering rangoes: then fra
broad still, mirrorlike water, only broken hv
the flash and flight of white heron or az
CLEAN of leaping fish, long spit of land ran
out into the lagoon, dividing it; and here wa
landed, met by Captain Brinton. one ne tLs
took to cultivatng the sticky stapIe in Rrt;sh
Honduras at the close of the civil war He ard
his hospitabe family made us very welcoms.
and with kindly ,garrulity the old gentleman en-.
ansc
cenco as sat on the wooden veranda IN -.
cool of the evening, and listened to the uwhc
are you's' whistle across the lagoon. Nextd,
we embarked for the caves of Manattee ths
end and aim OF our pilgrimage. The water
being too shallow to admit of our landing in the
boat. native ''dory," light craft of exceeding
ly questionable equilibrium, followed out Of =
cedar trunk, was brought alongside. and one bv
one we were tremblinglv transported to the shore
the dorys balance being kept by couple OF
water with the most reckless disregard for fha
attentions of its fnny inhabitants. The back
door of an empty house yielded to our solic;ta.
tions, and within we found two rooms of most
primitive plank construction. Here, however.
we laid feast for the gods to which the Gov.
ernor contributed the mayonnaise of his East
Indian experience, and the private secretary his
wonted and recovered amiability. Then wa
started for the caves, our Carib guide in front
and couple of compatriots of his bringing up
the rear with burdens that gave forth a sound
that was musical and tinking and refreshing
withal Half mile of cleared country brought
us TO the base Of the densely- wooded hills in n
state of intense fatigue not attributable, how
ever, as one might, suppose, to the exertion Of
walking. The fields were infested with ticks
insects almost too Objectionable to describe
Some OF them minute as TO escape notice.
but when once attached to the flesh they grow at
surprising rate. Uncleanly persons suffer
severely from these horrible things for if
and cannot be extracted without the aid Of u
knife. These, and the attention of tie "hobbles
and doctor fly, the former exactly the shape
OF soda-water bottle, the latter brilliantly
marked black and yellow insect, with sting
like lancet, made our walk diverting expert.
ence Each armed with his machete-a long,
broad knife that every bushman carries--the
men went on before up the hill while we STUN
bled along in single hle behind Tall cabbage
palms grew everywhere, the fruit of which In
ci INN tha hrro nf 1anv a. fha 4nu
Since for every cabbage consumed q tree must
be sacrificed, it is not probable that this much
taked-ot tropical product enters very largely
into native diet The cohoon palm constitutes
about onetenth of the forest, and makes q
lovely arch, with its tall fronds shooting ten 10
thirty feet from the ground and bending out
ward toward the top. The nuts grow in great,
grapelike clusters, and contain valuable oil,
which burns just twice as long as ordinary
cocoanut OIL Because Of the difficulty Of OK
pressing it. however, on account Of the extremely
hard SHELL thousands Of tons of these nuts are
wasted every year. Pineappes grew wild hero
and there, some almost ripe. 'rie -ties.' or
junglerope hung like bamboo screens from
the trees, and swayed into our faces;
wild sugarcane grew luxuriantly everywhcre;
and overhead orchids Of brilliant coors clung'to
decaying trees Now and then we came upon
cocoa, from which chocolate Is made, growing
wild. The fruit Of the tree is a large pod which
grows along the branches and out Of tho trunk
Inside is pulp, sort Of mucilaginous matter,
and the Seeds which are cleaned dried and ex-
ported in that condition. Cocoa is being grown
successfully and prohably in the colony with
bananas, which. with cocoa nuts, form large
and constantly increasing article Of export The
bananas produce every year after the frst and
the cocoa requires four years in which to ma
ture The shade of the banana is requisite for
the young cocoa plants, and the two thrive well
together.
After much crushing and shouting and investi-
cation we discovered the mouth Of the cave-a
great dark hole in the side of the Hill Pine
knots were lighted, and we clambered down by
the Pickering light into the first of innumerable
chambers full Of darkness, solitude and the un-
canny bat. Thickly hung with numberless drip
ping stalactites, the grotesquely hewn green
cells opened into one another in long and eihsh
vistas. The pine knots threw ghostly shadows,
and in the weird light we stared at one another
like acquaintapces from different planets. Great
sheets Of water spread out at our feet crevices
and chasms yawned everywhere, and the air was
damp and chill We smoked our initials. Of
course, for the edfcation of future generations
Of Central Americans, and then scrambled out
with the usual triumphant sense of accomplish
ment Then q long sail home over the purple
water, under the wonderful stars, and the caves
Of Manattee were relegated to the land of pleas
ant memories. GARTH.
At Loves Gate.
Love came to me summer day