The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-17

cooking. The Indians make an iptoxicat-
ing drink from the sap Of the cocoanut
tree, which at first has a bitter sweet
taste, afterwards becoming sour. In Por-
to Rico the nuts are utilized by drinking
the water from them when young, by
making SWeetmeats from the meat, and
by manufacturing cups and other uten-
sis from the outside shell. From the
trunks of the trees the best palm boards
are made for houses, because OF their re-
sistance to the inclemencies of the wealth
er. There are masses of fiber at the
base OF the leaves, which appear like
punches of tow or bast. These are the
fbrous remains of dried leaves which
have lost their feshy portion, and ap-
pear like pieces of cloth woven from thick
tow This is used for 1iltering and Sift-
ing.
Hardly second to the palms in point Of
usefulness is the bamboo cane. This beau
! tiful plant may be seen everywhere, grow
ing in graceful feathery clumps. Its stem
is used for fence posts, telegraph posts,
and construction Of the nuts of the peas
ant The individual joints are also used
for utensils, flower pots and for propagat-
ing the cocoanut seed.
A small tree known as the higuereta,
also called the Palma-Chrisu. abounds on
the coast. This tree produces bunch OF
berries similar 10 the coffee, which, when
boiled, yields very clear oil. This serves
as an illuminating Oil, giving a clear light
without odor and without smoke. 1t is
also much used as a purgative, as rem
edy for fevers and the Indians apply the
leaves for relief from headache
The tamarind is found in the plains
and in the forests. 1t grows equally well
ON the warm coasts and in the cocl noun
tains. The tree is very large and spread
ing. Its trunk reaches ten feet In cir
conference. The wood is hard and red
in color The fruit has a pleasant taste.
Diluted with water it forms d delicate
and wholesome beverage like that Of the
lemon, and is considered by some even
more agreeable. Sweetmeats are made or
the fruit. also remedies Tor levers, VIC
ious humorS, Sc'lr9y, etc.
The papaya, or "pawpaw tree, Is found
In the mountains and is grown near the
houses, because the islanders enjoy the
fruit as well raw as cooked in the ola.
The tree is small reaching three or tour
wards in height and less than foot III di-
ameter 1t is straight, and has, no pranch-
es: from the middle of the trunk 10 tne
ton it throws out leaves. The trult
crows in the angle of the leaf where it is
ioined to the trunk, and covers the entlre
circumference of the latter in such
manner thta it cannot be seen from the
middle to its top being covered by paw
paws The fruit grows to the SIZE oil an
ordinary melon. The very sweet pulp OF
the fruit is somewhat nauseous ana IN
sinid Eaten with the seeds 1t has an
agreeable taste, is strengthening, dturetlc,
anti scorbutic, acts as Vermllus anu ID
used in making commits.
The guanabana grows here, but Is
small. 1t blooms twice year. The fruit
nd ordinarily weighs
from to pounds. It's pulp Is very
white. tender and full Of juice which Is
nauseous because too sweet, and contains
small black seeds like the watermelon.
This fruit is used as remedy for
diarrhoea and fevers, being very cooling
and healthful The juice extracted has
the color and taste of muscatel wine, but
1t soon SourS.
The tachuelo or totumo (calabash) tree
is found near all houses. This tree Is
quite large; its trunk and branches are
crooked and knotty, with a few small,
feshy, lustrous green leaves. The fruit
Is oval, with q smooth, light-green and
very compact, although plant, covering,
and on the tree presents different forms
The pulp is white, spongy, like that OF
the sandals watermelon, and the seeds
resemble those of that fruit, but the
taste is bitter and biting. The gourd-
like fruit serves for plates, pitchers
spoons, and other domestic uses, furnish
ing most of the dishes and utensils OF
the poor. The guichero. or guiro. Pc