The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-29

ing, It's strength is greatly increased, and
IL then has an acrid flavor. Tn palm
tree u none tho worse for yielding to man
its oil and its wine. II, on the other hand
the cabbage be cut OF. the tree dies. Tho
cabbage l. the bulbCus core within the
heau OF tho tree, When trimmed and
boiled, It Is a solid yellow block, resembling
In exture and taste the ordinary parsnip,
the narrow neck being especially delicious,
and melting away in the mouth with the
flavor OF the finest asparagus.
A remarkable natural production in the
Sherbro Is the kola nut, which is exported
as a commercial article to the Ga nbia
and the Senegal, where II commands a high
price. 1t has, we are told, a very bitter
taste, and il considered by the natives a
preventive OF thirst. When undertaking
long journeys into the interior they carry
this nut with them for that purpose. II IA
also said to prevent sleep and consequently
Is in request among watchmen. Tn i'm
portance of the kola industry, which is en-
tirely in the hands of women, is indicated
by the fact that the value OF the nuts ex-
ported from the colony OF Sierra Leon,
In 1890 exceeded 1907 ,OOo. A single kola
tree will bear yearly a crop worth $40.
The rubber vine is found throughout
the Mendi country, wherever vegetation
ia big and tall. 1t attains a great height.
Nj. Alldridge has seen IL as thick as three
TO four inches in diameter, although, as a
rule, the stem is only about an inch and a
quarter thick. Our author found on vi>it-
ing Upper Mendi that the people knew noth-
ing about the properties OF rubber but were
familiar with the vine, and were aware that
IL they made an incision in 1t a milky fluid
would ooze out. Only a very small pro-
portion of the rubber exported from the
colony Of Sierra Leone comes from Sherbro,
Mendi Land. Mir. Af!dridge thinks that
the natives Of Sherbro Hinterland ought
TO be encouraged by the merchants 10
develop the rubber trade. He points out
that a native load OF palm kernels carried
down from the nearer centres OF production
lar weight in rubber at rs cents a pound
would be worth $50 to the carrier.
Passing to the fruits OF the country We
learn that the banana is not. strictly speak
ing, indigenous in the Sherbro, but its
cultivation costs practically nothing. Once
planted il goes on reproducing itself, and
requires no attention from man. Ihe
present local price of a bunch containing
1850 bananas IL II cents: The kindred but
coarser food known as the plantain is much
used on the coast as a vegetable; Ths
pineapple is indigenous In the Sherbro
and grows absolutely wild. The plants are
very large and sometimes four or five pines
may be seen upon one stalk For 8 cents
our author has bought two dozen pine
apples, many OF which, he says. might have
been soldf from 81. soto 81 apiece in England
could they have been transported IN Their
ripe condition, Another prolific fruit in
tne SntTDTO IL ule CotodLiut' INV Boih
which produces IL grows anywhere near
the sea. The cocoanu Is used for local
consumption, but the natives do not seem
70 be aware that ~copra-the sun-dried flesh
of the nut-might easily be pTepar q ana
shipped. Manages are very plentiful and
delicious In the Lower Sherbro. and our
author once succeeded in getting some
20 England in fine condition. Among the
remaining fruits nay he named sweet ana
bitter ans lines, guiavas, cuchuS'
.-.-.lula 1ranaHil a. melons. gOlT-SlnS.
p~su-paus, rough skinned pluns and the
alligator or avocado pair, which can hardly
be- called a fruit, a. It Is, in reality, much
more of a vegetable:
The cultivation of rice throughout the
Sherbro and it's Hinterland is of paramount
importance, as IL forms one OF the staple
articles of food. Owing to the primitive
way in which il is cleaned, most OF II does
not look ar white as that imported from
India or America, but our author has the
highest opinion Of it's nutritive qualities.
He saws that, whiic he cannot look AT inn
ported rice, he invariably has African rice
on his table. and partakes OF II with enjoy
ment. Another food staple IL the root
known as cassava. IL il, we learn, exceed
ingly nutritious. and may be eaten either
boiled, roasted or in the raw state. Cotton
IL grown all over the Mendi country, nut u
il only used locally in the manufacture OF
cloth. A specimen Of II sent 20 Liverpool
was pronounced of good quality, and worth
about II cents per pound. A. a matter oil
fact, no cotton is exported from Sherbro'
though IL might he grown on a great scale;
The principal industry among the Mendl
people II the weaving Of cotton into cloth.
The texture Of this cloth II very durable.
and the oolors, being all vegetable dyes,
retain their brightness, no matter now
often washed. This cloth rs made upon a
primitive native loom, In long str1pe' ONLY
a few inches In width. The strips are sewn
together, and made up into cloths and gowns.
Mr.. Alldridge " sure that. II these cloths
we're known In England, they would ho
appreciated and used, especially Tor por-
tiAree and other hangings. The weaving
of cotton cloth Is entirely In the hands o'
men. the women's part oeasing with TIC
ginning and spinning The mahus OF
pottery 4. another extensive Industry IN
the upper section 81 the Hinterland, where
the people are mainly d~ependent upon ns-
sils II APPEARS that large pots and bowls
Of an excellent quality are manufactur-d,
though thee u no such thing as q Nh'el
kept In motion by steam power anu W
fact. no modern appliances 20 assist ue
woTke. All that the native potter int
a slab 81 wood on which water " thrown
now and then Upon THE wet slab us
clay l. clf SANITY evolved 10y the hhhd-'
and l. rJpn transformed into a shAp"F
boWl This industry ls entirely In VA" hAAas
81 vuWru
r. vl,, extent IL o~snnihali-m prarti."f
a. the HrterlAui q the hhertrof NlI
AIldufgs cave hat the Mendb have 10
grr.tr-f aIlurrenre ~ such n clf' 'h
luf a rlI ~ Rru chief Informed him 'lat
boz s country there va 49, I~r-lh over y
N'ar - are Who had NJ eaten luhA.
fr-. o. talkiug q slave uur ciir' tia'"l
tia lr rtnrlN lad any tr'ulAr wa ur'.
80 rIrr urt ran a~ay aud sri" irlah'
Urt soto KILLED and cate hnHN 40 N'''
81 o. rfHrr fur Thorn rirN rrli I'l 'a
Tie ihll oYuutfy u r"af b"iA
f. i-.rlau slis Toll 90 cutie W 'H
i.laIu country a. inNrf h'fif"
a"rv Naslalt and ti."i 80 u.' - ''
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