The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-15
CONCERNING BANANAS.
Various Varieties and Various Ways
ri Eating the Tropical fruit.
IA. sxnsrk-.-f.

Ordinarily in this country bananas
are eaten raw. but in the tropics al
countries. while the natives eat them
IN ike fashion, d more delicate and. il
is said. more heaifhfnl mode OF eat
Ing them is tn vogue. The soft. ripe
fruit, beaten 70 cream. with a sufii-
cheney OF Anontiiiado sherry. forms
. very delightful appetizer. and il the
fsvorite way oI eating the banana I'm
certain parts OF the West Indies and
on the African coast. Taken in mod
Grafton on first rising In the morning
bananas are said 70 be preservatiye OF
health. and in this respect are in
marked contrast with other tropical
fruits which are detrimental, rather
than otherwise. to continued good
health An intoxicating drink is
made from the banana. and on &C
count of its astringent proper ties IS OF
considerable medicinal val In
Africa. and probably in other places
also, the banana, and the kindred
tree, the plaintain, are in very large
measure the sole dependence for the
food supply Of the natives.
The banana, when ripe, contains "a
per cent. water. OF the 81 remaining
parts, % are sugar and gluten, or
sh-Eorming substance. II is not In
itself 4 perfect food. bat requires the
addition Of some more heterogeneous
material as lean meat.
The pulp OF the banana. but more
often OF the plantain. is ofttimes
squeezed through a sieve and formed
into loayes, which. when ripe, will
keep very long time. fE the dried
state ii has a resemblance 10 bread
both in taste and composition, bus the
ripened pulp Is saecharine and not
farlnaceons
The fruit, however, OF the banana
is the least valuable part OF the tree.
The fiber, which in some countries is
permitted TO go 10 waste, Is of value.
Throughout Central America and the
continent of Africa IL Is used. with
only the preparation of drying, for
sewing thread aud fishing nets. The
threats are OF silky fineness. and il
was thought that as an article OF COM
merce il would pay 10 import IL in
large quantities. A firm in Bradford.
England having rot possession OF some
OF the fiber, wove qaanti-
~ OF handkerchiefs from il.
that for sleic8cy OF finish
and strength were nnexcelled. With
silky sheen and remarkably fine
web. such articleswonld have obtained
ready market. but Is was found that
the mode of obtaining the fiber by the
natives was too slow, aud until some
machine was invented To strip the
fiber quickly the small quantity would
be IF practically no use.
At Panama the raresk and most de-
iiciaas of the banana species has its
home. Small and ruddy IN It's color.
IL Is known vulgaTiy as the thumb
banana. and on account of its delicate
flavor is much prizeti even there. 1t
does not bear transportation well al
though il may often be found in the
markets os Chicago and New York.
Crossing the isthmus by the line that
connects Panama with Aspinwall the
natives nj the villages along the route
maze habit of coming 10 tbe train
decked in primitive fashion, with gar
lands Of aowers around their necKs
and flowers in their hair, ana disaos-
ing of frnit. Here the thumb banana
NAV lie eaten in its perfection.