Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-10-21
IN A PORTO RIcAN FOREST.
Wealth Of Tropical Fruits and Nuts -
Bo Found.


Wealth of Tropical Fruits and Nuts -
he Found.
BY nightfall, after I had ridden up
and won some Of the most unprepos-
sessing hills, and had got tangled in
no end Of chaparral, cactus and other
thorny underground. which changed
a new pdugee coat I had bought In
San Juax into an old rag, I found
myself Oh a high range Of sierra, says
the Century. From jibaro negress
learned that was halfway betweeS
the towns of Quemados and Jaquas.
and that I would find better trail
for my horse below. So rode down
lovely green valley, where planta-
lions Of coffee and tobacco lay side
by side. As 1t grew darker bats few
all about me and I heard the even
ing cries of birds which sounded like
our whippoorwills and mocking birds.
At last struck the trail that the
woman had mentioned. rode on
little way and took the horse into
clearing, where there was a spring
we'll hidden from view, and there
hobbled his feet to the halter rope.
flung myself on the ground and went
fast asleep. The last think I heard
was the beautiful song Of the soil
taire singing in copse above me.
was awakened early the next morning
by the screeching Of the green par
rots, quarreling with other birds In
the top of cocoanut palm. was
drenched with dew. but forgot all as
I thought Of my horse. To my great
relief, found him standing behind 3
bit Of oleander bush red with flowers,
crunching the juicy stalk of prickly
pear. watched him with interest as
he took the stalk and with his teeth
ripped off the skin with all its thorns.
He whinnied as il we were old friends.
After bridling and watering him I
found the trail and rode off southwark.
On the way l ate everything I could
find, from green cherries and guava
plums to juicy mangoes, which stain
ed the front Of my coat. and bell ap-
pies, the meat of which suggested
mildew. There were also custard ap-
pies, a large green fruit not unlike
cream puffs inside. The most aston
ishing and the best Of all was fruit
called pulmo-in our language, sour
sap, 1t is about as large as quart
bowl, and so nourishing and full that
a single fruit was enough for good
meal, although that did not deter my
horse from eating four Later l found
that they are also relished by dogs.
OF springs and streams there were so
many that l had no fear Of dying
of thirst If water was not handy
could always climb cocoanut tree
and throw down the green nuts, which
were filled with an abundance of
watery milk, more than I could drink
at one time. other nuts there were in
plenty, but many were more curious
than edible, even to my willing appe-
title. One had delicious odor. I
tasted little, and thought it ideal for
favoring candy. But it soon dissolved
in my mouth in fine dust, absorbing
all the moisture, SO that had to blow
it out like flour. Nothing ever made
me 80 thirsty in my life, and even after
rinsing out my mouth 1 felt for long
time as If I were chewing punk or
cotton. The fruit Of the tamarind only
added to my torments by setting all
my teeth on edge. When we reached
the next spring fell off my horse, for
fear he would get all the water. Only
after l had satisfied my thirst would
I let him drink.