Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-07

/ AdNllE lHt sea Ut hll dNklG W Allli ~
degrees. Here there was slipping and
sliding and falling continually At
other times they were more level and
walking was more easy.
TRAVELS ON sEAsHoRE.
At o'clock we emerged from the
forest and came 10 the sandy beach
that led 10 Uvita. Here In a grove Of
young cocoanut trees we rested and
enjoyed some milk and meat with d
deep feeling Of Thank God that road
is behind us" Two mules fell down a
bank, and had to be unpacked one
mule Knocked her eye out, and for the
rest OF the trip must go with one eye.
All have their legs scratched and bruis-
ed over the sharp rocks, but we brought
them over, and they carried their packs,
most Of the way at least,
Still amidst all of the troubles OF
the day there was a romantic pleasure,
that even downpour OF rain could not
dalnpen. The forests were grand well
worth years travel and good soak
| ing 10 witness. The ocean was Just as
wonderful, even though the waves as
we slowly crept along the shore over
the large rocks threatened every min
ute to engulf us. Every breaker SEEM
| ed to say, IF you do not hurry, In
! few moments you viii be In our grasp,
and then expect no mercy"
But we only laughed, for we
| knew their time, and could
| easily escape. Once, however, large
| one caught us as we rounded a point,
| but his fury was spent and he could
hardly gather strength to give us
good wetting. In a few hours after
wards however, the path we followed
was six feet deep with water, and the
large breakers ten feet high broke
over II in terrific fury
The horses, too, seemed TO be thank
full for the successes Of the day, and
though their legs were bleeding, and
| though one had his under lip severely
| cut and another, poor beast, his eye
| knocked out, yet they seemed TO enjoy
| the rich grass, as we enjoyed the re-
freshing cocoanuts. A half hours walk
along the sandy shore brought us to
| Uvita, where we found some Indians,
met with a hearty welcome and had
comfortable house TO camp In.
The next day we made Punta Mala,
and found thee little Indian settle
ment Our road was partly along the
shore and partly over projecting prom
were not bad But the distance was far
and as the tide gave us only about five
or six hours travel we were crowded
| for time. Reaching a critical place we
found to our surprise that the tide had
| anticipated US and gave us the al
| tentative Of camping on a barren shore
| all night without food or feed, or cut
ting our way through a grove OF man
| grove trees, which as is known have
| an endless number Of roots forming a
veritable Jungle We chose the latter,
| and each with his macheie cut and
| trimmed for dear life, while every
| break Of the wave brought the water
nearer to us. In a half hour we were
| through. aud crossing a small estro
were soon In the village greatly 10 the
! establishment Of the villagers There
WAS no pasturage for our mules, so
| borrowing n canoe | and the Indian
| crossed the narrow bay and from a
| grove Of wild cane obtained a boat full
/ Of cane tons, which the hungry animals
| greatly rellshed.
A PRODUCTIVE LAND.
II may be noticed that all along the
| shore for the last three days OF our
| trip the mountains hug the shore, IN
\ places coming down to the ocean IN
| rocky promontories. There are places
| between the promontories, however,
where beautiful valleys opening
| out 10 the sea are found
! with rich and comparatively
level land Usually there Is river or
small stream Of water running through
them. OF size, they comprise all the
way from a thousand to ten thousand
acres of land There is no harbor, and
the sea is usually rough. or no doubt
some OF these ideal place would long
since have attracted the settler. In
some OF these, such as Uvita, a few
acres OF the land is owned, and a little
ranch established, but otherwise the
land is all public. About the only pro-
ducts that could be grown with profit
for export, are cacao and rubber, but
these would yield abundantly. Bana.
mas, plantains, yams, corn and cocoa
nuts are now raised. and for these also
the land Is well adapted.
The plantain Is far superior both as
a fruit and vegetable, 10 the banana,
They are dearer. as the stocks do not
yield so well, but their superiority
makes up for the extra expense. An
average plantain Is about inches long
anu 40 AillNh as NIt NllrIt Uul we
have seen many, especially here at Pun
"a Mala. u inches long and as big
around as ones arm. A banana a foot
long and weighing two pounds would
be a curiosity In our home markets. but
here they are common in the plantaln
part Of the banana family. This fruit
Is good also as a vegetable, and In the
scarcity Of corn IS used by the natives
as their stan Of life II Is good roasted
and boiled. fried or raw when thor
oughly ripe. II Is sweeter than a BAN
ana and contains much more food pro-
perties IL once introduced az home
at reasonable price, feel certain II
would take the place 90 a great ex-
tent Of the sweet potato and the bana-
ma. lts long keeping qualities render
II a good shipper for In a cool place
II can be kept for a month in good
state.
Tomorrow We start on our road FOR
Boruca. three days drive from here,
and a heavy drive. for much Of the
way will be up hill, and one day VIII
be very severe. As we shall pass no
ranches on the way. We are laying In a
supply Of food. which consists chiefly OF
plantains and little meat
BENZ. CUFF. JR.
Punta Mala, Costa Rica. July IL, 1901.