Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-06-12
THE TRAVELLERS TREE.



the Natives of Madagascar.
A European traveller. on his way
from the coast of Madagascar to the
capital, Tananarivo. in the interior,
had emptied his water-hask, and was
suffering from thirst. He asked one Of
the natives of his party when he should
be able to obtain water: ANY time you
like" said the native, smiling. The
European saw no sign of spring or
water; but the natives conducted him
to a group of tai, palm-liie trees
standing in a cluster on the edge of the
forest, with straight trunks and bright
green, broad leaves, growing from the
opposite sides Of the stalk, and making
the tree appear like great fan. The
white man gazcd admirably at the tree.
You think it is fine tree" saiG the
native, but l will show you what it is
good for"
He pierced the root of ono Of the leaf
stems, at the point where it joined the
tree. with his spear, whereupon a
stream Of clear water spurtcd out,
which the European caught in his
watcr-can, and found cool, fresh and
excellent to drink. The party having
satisfied their thirst and taken sup
ply. the native who had spoken went
on
This tree. which is good for us in
more ways than one, we call the tray
clcr's tree"
but where does the water come
from that the tree contains?" asked
the white man. Els it taken up from
the soilp"
"Oh, no." said the native. "The
.envcs drink in the rain that falls on
them, and when it has passed all
through them, it becomes very pure
and swee,."
"Are there many of these trees on
the islandp"
There are so many that sometimes
one sees no other trees for mile; and
very often we take no provision OF
know that we shall find tho travellers
tree"
"And you say there are other things
Int they are good for?"
The native answered by asking an
,iher question.
"Do you remember" he said, "the
village that we passed through this
morning, with its wooden huts rooted
over with leaves? Those huts were
made of nothing but the travellers
tree. The wood splits easily, but makes
tough planks for floors, and the walls
of the houses are made of the bark.
with the branches we make thu
rnfter, and the leaves cover the roof
But this is not all that the good tree
does. We are coming soon to n village
whose people know, and l will show
you more"
The native was eager in his haste to
show to the traveller what the tree still
had in store for him, and the European
for his part, felt no little curiosity.
| They arrived soon at the village, and
the guide conducted the traveller to the
hut of friend, who received them very
Hospitality, and soon spread Il meal foi
them. First he placed upon II sort OF
table n spread made of some vegetable
substance, very light and pretty, then
he set before his guests two drinking
vessels Of material which the white
man did not recognizes; and then he
gave them two utensils, which, although
rude in shape, served in the stead oil
knife and fork. In the midst of the
table he paced large bowl filled with
cream of very appetizing appearance.
In another vessel there was quantity
of oil, with almonds floating upon it.
Before we begin" said the guide
II must tell you what l promised
Every thing that there is upon this table
comes from the travellers tree. You
see this table-cloth? 1t is made of the
Gbers of the leaves of the tree. These
drinking cups, these plates, thest
knives, are made of the wood CT the
bark of the tree, What you take to be
cream is II dish made of the seeds of tn,
tree. pounded up with meal, and mixed
with kind of milk drawn from the
trunk of the tree What you think are
almonds are little cakes made of these
'ecds, and the oil is pressed from the
kin or shuck of the seed. AS for the
water you are about to drink, you know
hat already. And we get not only
'hcse things. but some of the people OF
Madagascar have mado a kind of cloth
hat they wear cut of the fiber of the
wood. - Touah'S tompdnion.
!