Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1898-09-22
IN 4 PORTO RICAN FOREST.
The Wealth of Tropical Fruits and
Nuts That are Ito be Found.

war correspondents adventures
are set forth by Edwin Emerson, Jr.,
in the Century in an article entitled
"Alone in Porto Rico" Mr. Emerson
SAYS:
BY nightfall after I had ridden up
and down 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 Dongee coat I had bought in
San Juan intn an old rag, I found my
self ON a high range of sierra From
a jibaro negress 1 learned that I was
half way between the towns of Que
mados and Jaguas.. and that I would
find a better trail for my horse below,
So 1 rode down a lovely green valley,
where plantations of coffee and to-
bacco lay side by side. AS it grew
darker, bats flew all about me, and [
heard the evening cries of birds which
sounded like our whippoorwills and
hooking birds AIT last 1 struck the
trail that the woman had mentioned.
I rode on a little way, and took the
horse into clearing. where there was
a spring well hidden from view, and
there / hobbled his feet ITO the halter
rope. flung myself on the ground. and
went fast asleep. The last thing I
heard was the beautiful song of the
solitaire singing in Il copSe above me.
1 was awakened early the next morn
ing by the screeching of green parrots,
quarreling with other birds in the top
of a cocoanut palm. I was drenched
with dew. but forgot all as 1 thought
of my horse To my great relief,
found him standing behind bit of
oleander- bush red With flowers,
crunching the Juicy stalk of a prickly
near. I watched him with interest as
he took the stalk and with his teeth
ripped off the skin with all its thorns.
He wllinned as if we were old friends
After bridling and watering him. [
found the trail, and rode off south
ward. On the way [ ate everything
l could find. from green cherries and
g1ava p!ums TO juicy mangOs. which
stained the front of my coat, and bell
apples. the meat of which suggested
mildew There were also cuStard
apples. a large green fruit not unlike
cream-puffs inside.
The most astonishing and the best
of all was a fruit called pulmo-in our
Fan gI,a 2e. sour-sap. 1t is about as
large as quart bowl and so nourish-
ing and full that single fruit was
enough for Il 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
wafer was not handy, 1 could always
climb IL cocoanut tree and throw down
the green nuts, which were filled with
an abundance of watery milk Other
nuts there We're in plenty; but many
were hore curious than edible, even
to my willing appatite. One had a de,
licious odOr. / tasted a little, and
thought it ideal for fayoring candy. |
But it soon dissolved in my mouth in |
Il fine dust. absorbing all the moisture, |
so that I had to blow it ont like flour. |
ever made me so thirsty in !
my life. and even after rinsing out my |
mouth / felt for a long time as if 1 |
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. 1 fell off my horse for fear he
would get all the water. Only after
l had satisfied my thirst would 1 let
him drink