Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-07

the Nueces river of Texas to the north
front of the eastern Sierra Madres of Mex
leo, and from the mouth of the Pecos on
both sides of the Rio Grande nearly to the
gulf. 1t has been under examination by
the geological survey for the purpose of
finding water and many suitable localities
for artesian wells have been discovered.
1.-The region is unique said Mr.. Robert
T. Hill of the expedition yesterday. ut is
a wide. low-lying plain, through which
meanders in a sinuous course the muddy
Rio Grande. The country is covered with
dusty desert soil. on which grows the re-
markable vegetation known as 'chapparal'
This vegetation embraces many species Of
plants that are unknown elsewhere in the
world. and each one Of them is armed with
a kind Of thorn appropriate for its protec-
ton. Here those vegetal freaks, the cact
assume an astonishing variety Of strange
FORMS every one of them bristling with de-
fenSive weapons. that run all the way from
needles up to the size of bayonets. The
cactus you know. is a new type of plant
on the face of the earth. There Is reason
| to believe that it did not exist anciently at
all-anciently. that is to say. from the geo.
| logical point of view The tendency to a
gradual drying up of the land surfaces OF
the globe haYing brought about desert con-
| ditionS in places, certain plants have
adopted modes of growth suitable for the
| storing of water. At the same time their
| leaves have become modified into thorns.
| for their protection against animals.
! Though some of them look if scarcely
alive, they are found to be juicy enough
when cut into, and many of them are
full to man.
All Sorts of SticlSers.
1.-The chapparal, in a general way, may
| be described as dense shrubby vegetation,
growing just about high enough to obsrruct
| the view of man on horseback. 1t might be
! said to be made up of 4 series of thorny
| layers, which combined render travel
| through 1t extremely arduotIs and even
| painful. Under foot, close to the ground,
| are innumerable cacu of the pincushion'
! and Turks head species. They bristle
| with keen and sharp thorns, which easily
| penetrate the uppers of ones shoes If you
! are thirsty, however, you Rave only to bat
! ter in the crown of one of the Turks heads,
| and inside of it you will find a delicious
| draught Of water, cool and fresh.
| Just above the pincushions. and high
| enough TO stick into the calves of the legs.
| come the needle-like points of the Spanish
| dagger or ixtie.' This. too. has its use
fulness. being the great f1ber-producing
| plant CT Mexico. 1t is a small species of
aloe, it's thick blade-Iike leaves terninat-
| ing in curved needles. Higher again, so as
| to reach any point between the knee and
! shoulder of the traveller, is the famous
| 'nopal This huge variety OF prickly pear
| is the national plant of Mexico, figuring in
the coat of arms of that country. The de-
| lar represents eagle with a snake in its
| leak rising out of a nopaI bush. The
| fruit of this plant is pear-shaped and near
" as big as a Bartlett pear, having a deep
| cochineal color. In fact, it was from this
| kind Of cactus that the insects furnishing
the cochineal of commerce used to be OBJ
tanned, before that product was driven out
of the market by a coal-tar substitute.
| Woe to the weary wayfarer who on
| hot summer day yields to temptation and
eats this inviting fruit. lie will quickly
find himself in high fever which though
rot lastirg, is unpleasant. The fiat leaves
| are covered with long and keen needles,
! while at the base of each leaf is a group of
smaller and almost invisible needles. The
| latter. however, inflict wounds which are
apt to be felt for days. Higher yet and
above the shoulder reaches the Spanish
bayonet,' a kind of yucca. Standing in a
| flower pot in garden this plant is a hand
| some and innocent ornament, but in the
| Chapparal its dagger-lille points stab
through the clothing into the flesh.
above, forming dense mat over the
head of the traveller. are the thorny shrubs
of mary species-chief1y the mesquite and
it's allies, such the 'huishache,' the
'guaxillo' aad the cats claw Beneath the
shrubs are innumerable thorns. The 'guaX-
lilo is a sensitive plant. If you touch one
of its leaves gently it will shrink and
shrivel up for the moment. If you attempt
to handle the plant roughly, however, the
sharp curved claws concealed beneath the
leaves will make you sorry. The 'guaXllo'
Tears huge bean, which. when dry, makes
a rafting so like that of a rattlesnake as
to frighten anybody who is inexperienced
Thorns Are Useful.
1.-The native Indians, popularity known as
| 'MeXicanS,' have uses for every one of
these strange plants of the chapparal.
From different species they obtain soap,
hair tonic, toothbrushes. hairbrushes and
even medicines. Along the lower Rio
Grande the mesquite beans are made into
Tread. Horses are exceedingly fond of
these beans, and for them will abandon the
choicest oats at any time. The mesquite
leaves are masticated as an antidote for
| fever. 1t is said that a traveller can live
| in that country without water for con-
siderable time by chewing the pulp of the
thick leaves of the nopal.' The latter is
| utilized as food for cattle, and baby food
made from the juicy pulp has recently been
placed on the market.
Many of the plants of the chapparal
possess medicinal and economic values I'M
recognized up to date. Although in sense
| desert the term applied to this re-
gion is a misnomer, for concealed among
the thorny vegetation are many punches
the shrubs produce rich crops of beans on
which cattle, goats and sheep thrive mar
velously The vegetation has peculiar
habit of being always in fruit-a part of it,
that is to say. The fruiting is not con-
trolled by the seasons, but by rainfall One
often sees tree bearing flowers and ripe
fruit at the same time, whether it be in
June or December. The blossoms yield the
finest quality of honey and stock raisers in
the region have gone largely into the bust
ness of bee keeping. The wood of the
mesquite has a hard and close grain and is
valuable for paving. The streets of San
Antonio are paved with blocks of this
wood. l forgot to say that the natives
make thick paste from the 'nopal.' which
they apply all over the body of a person
suffering from smallpox.
Where Gnvza Hid
1.-The chapparal being armed in the man.
] rer l have described against intrusion by
man or beast affords effectual concealmen,
for any legged creature that penetrates in
to it. 1t was in this Jungle of cacti that
the bandit Cara found safety for so long a
i time, defying the combined efforts of the
| ablest Indian-fghting cavalry, United States
marshals and Texas rangers. who were
bent on his capture. He was caught event
uaily but rot in the chapparai- Disguised
as a herder, in sandals and rags, driving 9
few goats and scabby sheep. he threaded
his way in safety through end out Of the
country.