228 OVERRIPE TROPICAL FRUIT. 



would be most desirable. The fault is with the grower. 



As good typical examples of tropical fruits, of a soft 

 and luscious character, the custard apple, the papaw, 

 the banana, and the mangosteen, may be selected. It 

 is this class of fruits which are accused of quickly 

 cloying upon the palate, and after a few days' trial 

 becoming positively distasteful to many people. They 

 are further objected to by some persons as being very 

 unwholesome. All that we shall venture to say in 

 their defence is that these supposed failings greatly 

 depend on whether or not they are eaten exactly at 

 the proper moment: especially the three first named 

 examples. 



None of this class of fruits keep well : when ripe they 

 require to be eaten at once, or they are completely 

 spoiled. If they are the least overripe, a species of 

 vinous fermentation immediately sets up in them, which 

 quickly destroys their delicate flavour, and renders them, 

 to most European palates, positively nasty; while at 

 the same time, there can be no doubt, they become 

 in many cases exceedingly unwholesome in that of 

 the banana especially. 



This last fruit is, as we know, a regular article 

 of food with vast numbers of natives inhabiting tropical 

 countries and it is possible to live upon it exclusively, 

 for long periods of time, without experiencing any evil 

 effects. What would have become of Mr. Stanley's 

 expedition, for instance, without the banana? 



Really good bananas, in first-rate condition, are, we 

 venture to think, as delicious and harmless a fruit as 

 it is possible to find; which can be partaken of as 

 largely, and eaten as frequently, as almost any fruit 

 we could name, subject to the conditions indicated 



