The herald., 1898-09-04
sort Of minor accompaniment they shouted
in their rich southern voices: "Viva
Americana" "YiYa Americana!"

sort Of minor accompaniment they shouted
in their rich southern voices: "Viva
Americana" "Viva Americana!
The camps have visited so far have few
cases of smallpox, but no yellow fever. The
Red Cross is we'll established here, and
the women attract no little attention as
they go about dressed In their dainty uni
forms.
The Porto Ricans are an altogether diff
ferent class of people from the Cubans.
They resemble more the Mexicans
An officer told me this morning that
nearly all the "boys in buff" were copying
Off recipes of wonderful dishes cooked here,
the cuisine, both in private houses and
inns, is very enjoyable. In the market are
wonderful prawns, turtles and more new
fishes than l can describe. The meat and
poultry are good and cheap. The cereals
come from home and the fruits and veg
etables are remarkably varied. The ma
tive sweet potato is richer than ours and
the jam Is excellent. The pepper family
Is very popular, chilies, bell-peppers, sweet
peppers. long peppers, ball peppers and sew
eral kinds whose names do not know are
seen everywhere. There are okras, gourds
and marvellous onions. One omelette had
in camp made under the supervision of a
Porto Rican contained finely chopped
ham, tomato chile, onion, ginger, bay leaf
and spices and surpassed the Spanish ONE
lette made at the Waldorf. 1t was fine
course dinner in itself. am certain
Porto Rico is going to be great resort for
club men and diners-out,
Our troops are winning golden opinions
everywhere and one and all pronounce this
lovely climate. The people are affection
ate, hospitable and generous. But, OH
what sweet tooth they all have; even the
men chew candy. Their confectlons are
out of the ordinary in many respects, the
best of them being made from fine almonds,
1lberts and fruits. In sweetmeats they are
Unsuitable. The soldiers are following their
examples in many minor things, and jel-
lies and jams are more common at mess
than butter.
The housewives here make the most Of
everything to eat. They boil and sugar a
fruit and make Jelly; they boil 1t further
and make jam; still further and get a
marmalade; further again until 1t is enarly
solid. and 10, you have pasta. I have
sampled these made from guara, loquot,
ounce, peach, dpTlCOtS CiaUdpPle, oIdh6S,
pineapple and mango. had a typical Por-
to Rican breakfast this morningg. 1t con-
sisted of a mango, eggs, fish and meat
cooked with fresh fruit.
A Lieutenant from one of the northern
regiments, who has given the matter much
thought, says the cooking here is happy
combination of Spanish, French Carib and
Aarkey. One receives dozens OF culinary
Aarpr!ses in as many hours. One, which
me soldiers like very much, Is rich soup.
The liquid part Is made of black beans
(frijoles) and stock and in each plate were
three small force-meat balls and a hard
boiled pigeon egg. Another curious dish
they call rajo-viejo, or "old clothes" 1t
ID half pot roast and half a stew. The
meat Is spiced and then boiled almost to
rags and tatters. The Juice and water are
boiled down into thick brown sauce. In
this are also boiled chilies, okras, tomatoes
and. think, black beans.
A""ther wonderful dish is ragout made