New-York tribune., 1901-10-20
NATURES BOUNTY IN THE TROPICS.
THE FOOD AND DRINK OF THE NATIVES OF
SOUTH AMERICA.
From the Venezuela Herald.


SOUTH AMERICA.
From the Venezuela Herald
The marvellous natural prepared food of the
until the expedition of Humboldt to the Orinoco'
whose account was at hrs SO @ ana STaa
the staff of life" 1t is found in many OF the
especially in the bread fruit tree, where it is
gathered just as the mamma found in Egypt.
bers 10 wheh deiS ae in wild
such as cassava yucca and wild yam These grow
diversity of soil and climate The same is true as
corn and product of all the vegetable king
dom affords so good an opportunity OF STUDYING
the laws of acclmatization, while It's capacity 10
temperature almost unlimited. The cassava
is generally made into farna. a coarse but nu-
are numerous plants at the equator which produce
mky emuSons @ but none SO dr ca awa tree
By making incision into It's trunk II exudes an
abundance of glutinous. thick white milk. which is
most agreeable to the taste, and forms inn
portant aliment of the natives.
Long before the outside world had discovered
caseum as the basis OF cheese the Indians We're
drinking this milk and eating the cheese from its
is obtained from the Papaya tree ana "a answers @
milk The lard OF the Ornoco savage is largely
obtained from cavern bird. called the guacharo'
without becoming rancid. II is entirely free from
any disagreeable smell and really forms an, an eX- x
the principal food of the Amazon tribes at certain
seasons. and il is obtained from the sago tree.
OF meal The manioc OF the llaneros of Venezuela
paste This fish bread is similar to that described
by Pliny, which was prepared by the people along
various natural food products can be added the
innumerabe farinaceous fruits, oily nuts, roots,
nutritious and healthful Even variety OF ants
tribes about the delta Of the Orinoco The abdo-
men OF this ant is a lump OF white fat and; though
liei'ts ment ''''''7 1''1 ''''''' - ''
In the matter of Intoxicating drinks. our un-
a
diversified the wines. brandies whskeys
and Pgqae Of IS Mexco re Well known products Of
the agave: the tiste and mchla Of Nicaragua ar are
and cassava; the highly intoxicating cocuya OF
New-Grenada is obtained from the hque plant the
same which produces the fine fibre for coffee bags;
the gurapo and niche, universally used by the
rom The fermented tuce OF sugar cane the chcha
OF Carbs is decocted from the csndela tree. as
OF these decoctions have the elements of very
powerful poisons which serve TO madden the brain
sometimes making demons OF their devotees.
Besides the food products and beverages. nature
is bountiful to her wild children in the way OF
eothing medicines and other neGesSareis ,.ida she she
marina, wax and glue from the guaco. as well as
from the macoa and ramie. illuminating candles
from the candeIa. arrow poison from the cuspa and
from the cocoanut blowpipes and musical instru-
hehts from the 9dinDUo haarMOOu tr b - IN I'M
"iepso and sarapia. and medicines from a hundred
Indian finds his colors in fustic indigo and several
varieties of clay. which he a coat Of
varnish obtained from the anato and other resnous
plants.
The curios brought from the Orinoco and Amazon.
in the way of quantity carved Calabashes and
cocoanut shell are painted and Vanished in this
way being found very durable and lasting. The
red pigment is obtained from chica leaves mace
rated in water yellow tints from the juices
of the parma well as anato, and dark brown
colors from the caruta, which is also used in tat
tooing The lasting qualities of of these colors
when covered with a protecting varnish balsam
are demonstrated by the painted mummfed remains
OF tribes which have been extinct for centuries In
fact the savage has been the pioneer in discovering
OF the vegetable world where nature has deposited
them in the sap bark, roots and fruit.
The writer has spent part of several years in