Evening star., 1898-09-17
IN A PORTO RICAN FOREST.
The Wealth of Tropical Fruits and
Nuts That Are to Be Found.

From the Century.
BY nightfall, after 1 had ridden up and
down some of the most unprepossessing
hills, and had got tangled in no end of
cheparral. cactus, and other thorny under
growth. which changed a new pongee coat
l had bought in San Juan into an old rag,
I found myself a high range of sierra.
From jibaro regress 1 learned that I was
half way between the towns of Quemados
and Jaquas, and that 1 would find a better
trail for my horse below. So I rode down
a lovely green valley, where plantations of
coffee and tobacco lay side by side. AS it
grew darker, bats few all about me, and
L heard the evening cries of birds which
sol nded like our whippoorwills and mock
ing birds. At last l struck the trail that
the woman had mentioned. l rode on lit
tie way, and took the horse into clearing
where there was u spring well hidden from
view, and there l hobbled his feet to the
halter rope. flung myself on the ground,
and went fast asleep. The last thing /
heard was the beautiful song of the soii-
taire singing in copse above me.
l was awakened early the next morning
by the screeching of green parrots, quar-
reling with other birds in the top of a CO.
coanut palm. 1 was drenched with dew,
but forgot all as l thought of my horse.
To my great relief, L found him standing
behind a bit of oleander bush red with
flowers, crunching the juicy stalk of a
pFlckly pear watched MIN with inter-
est as he took the stalk and with his teeth
ripped off the skin with all its thorns. He
whinnied as II we were old friends. After
brtdling and watering him, l found the
trail. and rode off southwark. On the way
ate everything l could find, from green
cherries and guava pluras to jicy mangoes,
which stained the front of my coat and
bell apples, the meat of which suggested
mlldeW. There were also custard apples a
large green fruit not unlike cream puffs in
side.
The most astonishing and the best of all
was fruit called pulmo-in our language
sour sap. 1t is about large as quart
bowl, and SO nouriShing and full that
single fruit was enough for a good meal al
though that did not deter my horse from
eating four. Later 1 found that they are
also relished by dogs. OF springs and
streams there were many that L had no
fear Of dying of thirst. If water was not
handy, l could always climb a cocoanut
tree, and throw down the green nuts which
were filled with an abundance of watery
milk, more than could drink at one time
Other nuts there were IN plenty but MANY
were more curious than edible, even to nv
willing appetite. One had a delicious odor
l tasted a little, and thought it ideal for
favoring candy. But it soon dissolved in
my mouth in a fine dust, absorbing all the
moisture, so that 1 had to blow 1t out like
flour. Nothing ever made me so thirsty
in my life, and even after rinsing out nv
mouth l felt for a long time as if 1 We're
chewing punk or cotton. The fruit of the
tamartnd 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 had satisfied my thirst would 1 let
him drink.