Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-26
The Luscious Banana.
HOW IT IS EATEN IN THE rRoPICs-THE THUMB
VARIETY.


VARIETY.
From the Alta California.
Ordinarily in this country bananas are eaten
raw. but in the tropical countries, while the
natives eat them in like fashion. a more deli
cate, and, it is said, a more healthful mode Of
eating them is in vogue. The soft, ripe fruit.
beaten to a cream. with a sufficiency of Anon
tlllado sherry. forms a very delightful appe-
tizer ard Is the favorite way of eating the
banana III certain parts of the West Indies and
on the African coast. Taken in moderation on
first rising IN the morning bananas are said to
be preseryatlye of health. and in this respect
are in marked contrast with other tropicaI
fruits which are detrimental, rather than other
wise. to continued good health. An intoxi-
eating drink Is made from the banana. and on
account OF Its astrlngent properties is of con-
siderable medicinal value. In Africa, and
probably in other places also. the banana and
the kindred tree. the plantain, are in a very
large measure the soul dependence for the
food supply of the natives.
The banana. when ripe. contains "A per cent
water; OF the twenty-siX remaining parts
twenty are sugar andtwo gluten. or flesh form
ing substance. 1t is not in itself perfect food
but requires the addition OF some more nitro
genous material. as lean meat
The pulp of the banana. but more often of
the piantaln. IS oftlmeS squeezed through a
sieve and formed into loaves. which, when ripe,
Will keep very long time. In the dried state
il has "a resemblance to bread both in taste and
composition. but the ripened pulp is saccha-
rine, and not farinaceous
The fruit. however. of the banana is the
least valuable part of the tree. The fiber
which IN some countries Is permitted to 90 to
waste, Is of value. Throughout Central
America and the continent of Africa it is used
with only the preparation of driving, for sew
ing thread and fishing nets. The threads are of
silky fneness, and it was thought that as an
article OF commerce il would pay TO import it
III large quantities. firm i'll Bradford. Eng
land, having got possession of some OF the
iiber. woye quantity of handkerchiefs from
It, that for delicacy of finish and strength were
unexcelled- With silky sheen and rernarka-
bly, fine web, such articles would have obtained
ready market. but il was found that the mode
OF obtaining the fire by the natives was too
slow, and until some machine was invented to
strip the fiber quickly the small quantity would
be of practically no use.
AT Panama the rarest and most delicious of
the banana species has its home Small and
rudy in color, it is known vulgarly as the
thumb banana. and on account of its delicate
navor Is much priced even there. 1t does not
bear transportation well, although it may often
be found In the markets of Chicago and New
York. Crossing the Isthmus by the line that
| connects Panama with Aspinwall the natives
| at the villages along the route make habit of
| coming to the train decked in primitive fashion,
with garlands OF flowers around their necks
and flowers in their hair. and disposing of
| fruit. Here the thumb banana may be eaten
In its perfection.