l8 9 x -] A Visit to the West Indies. 



139 



ency of beef-fat. At maturity it bursts open, exposing the 

 large, glossy black seeds. It is used to flavor fish. 



There are several starch-containing food plants which are 

 little seen in the north. The yam 3 s * probably furnishes more 



J 



grown. It seemed in- 



ferior to either the sweet potato or the Irish potato, being 

 coarser and rather tasteless. The tuberous roots are large, 

 irregular, and frequently weigh several pounds. 



The cassava 36 (tapioca, mandioca) also furnishes a large 

 amount of food to the poorer classes. The rhizomes are 

 ix or eight inches long and rather slender. The skin is peeled. 



\ 



The 



residue is used to make cassava bread or cakes. The wash 

 water is allowed to stand, when the suspended matter settles. 

 This is used for starching clothes. 



A third starch producing plant, quite common along the 



J 



This somewhat re- 



sembles a giant calla-lily. The rhizomes, or * 4 coco-feet " are 

 roasted and eaten quite commonly by the natives. The ar- 

 row-root 38 belonging to the carina family is also grown. 



The bread-fruit 39 tree is cultivated, and has become natur- 

 alized in many places. The fruit, which looks like a big 

 osage orange, is much relished by Jamaicans, but as was the 

 case with many tropical fruits and vegetables, it seemed to 

 us to lack flavor. Its near relative, the jack-tree 40 with much 

 larg cr oblong fruit is less common. 



I he chocho 41 a prickly oblong vegetable resembling a 

 cucumber, is prepared for eating in the same way as squash 

 and tastes like it. 



1 he oc^ra, 42 not uncommon in northern gardens; bay- 

 berry 43 whose leaves are often used for flavoring; allspice* 44 

 rose-apple, 4 ' a tree with leaves like the mango, but with 

 large white flowers having numerous long stamens; tama- 



Dioscorea. alata. etc. (Diosc | 

 Janipha Manihot. (Euphorb.) 

 ' Coloc. iaesculenta. (Aroid.) 

 Maranta sp. (Scitam. ) 

 Artocarpus incisa. (Urticac.) 

 10 A. integrifolia. 



3 5 



36 



8 

 88 



3 9 



4? 



4 3 



4 J 



Lech iii m prhil*» (Cucurb ) 



Abelmoschus moschatU (Malvac | 

 Pimenta acris. (Myrtac .) 



■J Pimenta vulgaris. 



* Jambosa vulgaris (Myrtac.) 



