The record-union., 1898-09-24

for the table than steWed iguana when
one is camped in the woods, as the
writer can testify, for the flesh looks
like quail and tastes like tenderest
chicken.
AS for fish, some of the large streams
produce good fresh water varieties,
while the coast swarms with shad,
bonitos, Dream, sardines, Spanish
mackerel, snappers, dolphins, flying
fish, sting rays, sharks and occasionally
those mammals generally classed with
the fish family, manatees and whales.
The best fishing grounds are said to be
the magnificent bay Of Aguadilla and
the harbor Of Arroyo, the former on the
western and the latter on the southern
coast. All these waters swarm with
fish of gaudiest colors, rainbow hued
and strangely shaped; but notwith-
standing their abundance the people Of
all the West Indian islands import vast
quantities of Nova Scotia cod, which is
the main article of subsistence for the
blacks. With shred of salt cod, a bit
of breadfruit, a banana or two ana
cocoanut water to wash them down, the
Caribbean negro is sufficiently content
and has no use" for work.
Flowers, it may be said, without de-
scending to particulars, bloom here all
the year in infinite variety. Incident
ally also it may be mentioned that,
though the seasons here are not so we'll
defined as in the north, there is never
theless a winter, a spring, summer
and an autumn; but only two seasons
are recognized, the rainy and the dry.
The first four or five months OF the
year are altogether delightful, rain
20
disturb a country picnic.
The rainy season should begin IN
NAV or June. but sometimes hangs over
till July or August, when the .hurrl-
cane season" is on. In the neighboring
island Of st. Thomas the authorities
long ago designated the 25th Of July
as a, day of fasting and prayer for pro-
lection against the dangers Of the com
inc hurricanes and the 25th of October
as a day Of thanksgiving in grateful
recognition of escape from destruction.
Hurricanes are not so frequent here as
iu some other islands, but they have
been very destructive in the past ana
are likely to be in the future. The es-
4ahlishment by our Government of sig
nal stations in our new possessions Will
enable the Porto Ricans to prepare Tor
coming storms. and the Cyclone eel
lar" Of our great West will probably be
nrorontlv adopted. After October the
weather becomes settled, and November
and December are delightful.
some of the blessings which go to
,nake of Porto Rico an earthly paradise
have been touched upon, but the evils
attendant upon the life Of dweller on
4ba island should not be overlooked.
one of the disadvantages of tropical
,.1i,oa+e-which from its continuous
4,ao+ and moisture brings forth and sus-
+agpc an exuberant vegetation-fs the
,,,,,,har of insect pests. It is believed
+ha+ porto Rico is as exempt as any
+ronical country, but that is speaking
o,Iv relatively. The writer has passed
many q. night in the tropic forests,
sleeping in open air beneath the palms
and tree ferns; in neglected negro nuts
where the thatch swarmed with vermin
and the floors were alive with fieas and
cockroaches; he has lived in the West
Tndiaa summer and winter for several
wears. vet he can say that he was never
stung or bitten by anything more dan-
serous than an ant or hornet. rms
also was the experience of an old nat
urahst who spent sixty years IN CUBA
Porto Rico and other ISLANDS In the
Caribbean. But we came near enough
TO danger on many an occasion.
Most to be feared are the SCORPIONS
tarantulas. centipeds, wasps, mosqul-
toes. black and red ants, ticks, jig