IN PANAMA 



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refitted. The few inhabitants were Indian, and in looks, habits, and 

 manner of living, just what one finds from Mexico all the way down to 

 the Amazon. They were friendly and brought us pineapples that were 

 most delicious, and after much palaver, we secured a pilot. It was while 

 walking along the shore from one little settlement to another that the 

 Scout, with whom I was, had an unpleasant experience. We were 

 under a tree that looked for all the world in bark and leaf like a pear 

 tree, with a fruit that had the appearance of a small apple. We each 

 picked half a dozen and the Scout bit into one, remarking that it tasted 



ON THE BEACH, GUBERNADOR ISLAND. 



like a sweet apple. I used mine, however, to pelt the native 

 dogs that were following, and then both forgot the episode. 

 After the return to the schooner, however, while getting under 

 way, the Scout was taken suddenly ill, vomiting, retching, 

 and complaining that he felt as if he were on fire inside. We gave him 

 such simple remedies as were obtainable, but it was hours before the 

 attack passed off. The natives said later that both tree and fruit, known 

 as the bitter uiansana, or arsenic apple, are intensely poisonous. A horse 



