Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-11

pomelos. which are a sort of sweet grape
fruit or sour orange, with most agreea-
bic acid flavor. The mangostena, which is
considered a great delicacy throughout all
the East Indies, Is found In abundance in
the southern islands, where 1t is known
as kings fruit" because the Moro sui.
tans formerly insisted upon reserving 1t
for their own enjoyment.
Guavas of very fine quality, from which
Jelly is made. grow wild In the greatest
abundance. and 80 per cent of the crop goes
to gather them. They have never been Gull
tivated.
The Pawpaw or Papaya Tree.
The pawpaw tree also f1ourishes in the
wild state and is prolific. They call It here
the papaya- The tree attains the height of
twenty-five or thirty feet. Is shapeiy and
artistic. and the fruit. which grows like a
cocoanut. has the shape and flavor of a
cantaloupe. 1t contains considerable
quantity of pepsin. hence Is recommended
by physicians to persons inclined to indi-
gestion and dyspepsia. There are some
mysterious qualities about the papaya. The
natives say that meat and poultry will be-
come tender If hung up in its foliage or
wrapped In Its long green leaves.
Tamarinds, which are known here as
sampalocs are never planted or cultivated.
They grow wild in every part of the islands
and are not appreciated to anything like
their value. The fruit resembles bean,
and sauces, and by the apotheca RES as an
aStrfngent The leaves are said to contain
large percentage of tannin and might be
gathered for export with profit. There is
a sort OF bogus peach Of great beauty and
exquisite fragrance. called the mabelo but
1t Is as puckery as a persimmon, and has
rank taste while raw. although 1t inn
proves oy cooking. Ginger and vanilla are
round IN wild state. but are not cultivated
or utilized. A small quantity of tapioca
and Sage is produced for local CONSUMPTION. ;.
Sage Is the pith of a species of palm, which
Is cut out, Sun-dried. boiled to q paste and
allowed to crystalline.
Inc mango. however Is the most popular
ana perhaps the finest fruit to be found
mere. IL IS oval; about five inches long and
or yellow color when ripe There is a
large stone In the center from which tho
npers run at right angles and the fruit
must be sliced lengthwise on the sides of
t the Stone. inc trees are large and majes-
NC. ana when in flour and fruit the natives
Keep nreS OF bruShwood burning undar tba
branches. which they claim hastens tho
aaevelopment of the mango and improves its
nasor. Inc Iruit Is cooling and nourisbing
and especially adapted to a climate whas.
tne excessive use of meat and other solids
IS injurious. There is no limit TO ire NJ
,aI, H., ana IT might be packed while par
'iar,y ripe ana shipped to the United States
me banana Is perennial, and by nIantino
suckers at different times of wear II 10 ,,os
sioie 70 nave fresh fruit the entire Year
snakes and Other Pests.
Inc philippines are not as prolific In
snake life as other Of the East India fsIands
mere are rev varieties. and the bites of
Two or three of them are fatal If NOT ram
terized at once; but they are not often
seen except in the rice fields, which also
produce Ieeches in abundance. Boa con-
strictors are occasionally captured, and are
said to be entirely harmless. Army officers
who have explored the interior of the soutb-
ern Islands tell of seeing them domesti-
ca.eo IN tne native villages and fed like
pets. mosquitoes are plentiful everywhere
that stagnant water gives them a chance
to breed. but there is comparatively little
malaria.
A lizard called the "chacon" can be found
In almost every house, and Is a very i'm
portant member of the family because it
lives upon fieas flies. cOckroaches and other
household pests. We have two of them i'm
our room at the hotel One seems to de-
vote itself to the north and east walls
exclusively. while the other has jurisdiction
over the rest of the apartment. They crawl
about in most deliberate and dignified
manner, and make a queer little noise SIM
liar to that of a tree toad. A man who is
us that these two little fellows keep the
room clear of bugs and other creeping
things. and should be regarded with graft
tude and admiration. Therefore, I tender
to them this humble tribute. i
Firefiies illuminate the foliage in most
fascinating manner. You never saw them
so plentiful as they are here. Moths and
butterflies abount In hundreds of varieties.
and there are bats of all sizes. Some of
them have been caught measuring four and
five feet across the wings. and they are
apt to make timid people nervous, although
they are said to be harmless
Ravagss Of the White Ant.
The most DANGEROUS and destructive OF