GUANACASTE—PUNTARENAS TO LIBERIA 425 



the termites). After the nest had been cut into for a consid- 

 erable depth it was a curious sight to see the termites leaving 

 their habitation in a column, several inches wide, passing 

 down a branch of a tree which had been built into the nest 

 to the ground. To do so the insects had to expose themselves 

 to the direct rays of the sun — which the eyeless castes of 

 termites (workers and nasuti) do not ordinarily do. 



When we returned to breakfast — almuerzo — we were 

 offered among other viands papaya and tiste. Papaya is 

 the fruit of a tree {Carica papaya) some fifteen feet high, 

 unbranched and bearing at the top of the slender trunk 

 whose diameter is two to three inches, a cluster of deeply 

 divided leaves; their shape recalls the leaves of the bread- 

 fruit but they are smaller and less glossy green. Beneath 

 the leaves is a cluster of fruits which when ripe are flask- 

 shaped, about a foot long and of a yellow color. Under the 

 yellow rind is a salmon pink flesh with numerous small 

 pale seeds. The taste is indescribable, suggesting somewhat 

 a canteloupe, moderately sweet, pleasant, but to me less 

 attractive than that of the banana or mango. The flesh 

 is said to contain pepsin. Tiste is supposed to be of Indian 

 origin. It is a drink made by grinding cake-cacao, Indian 

 corn and sugar in cold water, in a jicara with a molenillo and, 

 especially when the water is really cold, is agreeable and 

 refreshing. 



In the afternoon I went again to the Rio Liberia east of the 

 town and was able to find some additional species of dragon- 

 flies, here commonly known as "pipilachas," a Chorotega In- 

 dian word whose significance we do not know. An Indian 

 name in common use for grasshoppers is " tapichiche," literally 

 "covering for the breasts," but the application is unknown. 



To the bank of the river were attached som.e small spheri- 

 cal clay vessels about one quarter of an inch in diameter, 

 and with a little straight rimmed spout; from analogy I 



