The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-02-21

| ages to get through this great
thick shell, which is not like an
almond or hazel nutshell, that is
} divided down the middle already
Mature provides for all things
| answered, taking up the pieces.
Look here, do you see these
t three round holes near the stalk?
, it is through them that the germ
/, obtains egress. Now let us find
: a good nut if we can"
AS cocoanuts must be over-ripe
before they fall naturally from
the tree, it was not without diff
ficulty that we obtained one in
which the kernel was not dried
up. When we succeeded, however,
we were so refreshed by the fruit
that We could defer the repast we
called our dinner until later in
the day, and so spare our stock
of provisions.
Continuing our way through a
thicket, and which was so dense
ly overgrown with lianas that we
had to clear a passage with our
hatchets, we again emerged on
the seashore beyond, and found
an open view, the forest sweep
ing inland, while on the space
before US stood at intervals single
trees of remarkable appearance.
These at once attracted Fritz's
observant eye, and he pointed to
them, exclaiming,
ooh, what absurd-looking trees,
father! See what strange bumps
there are on the trunks"
We approached to examine
them, and l recognized them as
calabash trees, the fruit of which
grows in this curious way on the
stems, and is a species Of gourd,
from the hard rind of which
bowls, spoons, and bottles can be
made. 1.-THE savages," l remarked,
"are said to form these things
most ingeniously, using them to
contain liquids: indeed, they &C
tually cook food in them"
"Oh, but that is impossible"
returned Fritz. 81 am quite sure
this rind would be burnt through
directly it was set on the fire"
81 did not say it was set on the
fire at all. When the gourd has
Loor di1idOd in two ood tho |
shell or rind emptied of it's con-
tents, it is filled with water, in
to which the fish, or whatever is
to be cooked, is put; red hot
stones are added until the water
boils; the food becomes fit to
eat, and the gourd-rind remains
uninjured."
THAT is a very clever plan:
very simple too. I daresay l should
have hit upon it, if l had tried"
said Fritz.
"The friends of Columbus
thought it very easy to make an
egg stand upon its end when he
had shown them how to do it.
But now suppose we prepare some
OF these calabashes, that they may
be ready for use when we take
them home"
Fritz instantly took up one of
the gourds, and tried to split is
equally with his knife, but in
vain: the blade slipped, and the
calabash was cut jaggedly. What
a nuisance," said Fritz, flinging
it down, "the thing is spoiled;
and yet it seemed so simple to
divide it properly"
"Stay," said I; you are too
impatient, those pieces are not
useless. Do you try to fashion
from them a spoon OF two while
| provide a dish"
l then took from my pocket a
piece of string, which | tied tight
Iy round a gourd, as near one
end of it as I could; then tapping
the string with the back of my
knife, it penetrated the outer
she'll. When this was accomplish
ed. [ tied the string yet tighter;
and drawing the ends with all
my might, the gourd fell, divided
exactly as l wished.
"That is cleveri" cried Fritz.
What in the world pat that plan
into your head?"
"It is a plan," 1 replied, (which
the negroes adopt, as | have
learned from reading books Of
well, it certainly makes a cap
tai soup-tureen, and a soup plate
said Fritz, examining the
,ourd. "But supposing you had
wanted to make a bottle, how
you'd you have set to work."
at would be an easier opera
ion than this, If possible. All
hat is necessary is to cut a round
lole at one end, then to scoop ]
,ut the interior, and to drop In
shot or stones: When
are shaken, any remaining !
,ortions of the fruit are detached,
md the gourd is thoroughly
leaned, and the bottle complete"
'That would not make a very
convenient bottle though, father;
T would be more like a barrel"
True, my boy; If you want a