116 
SURVIVAL ON LAND AND SEA 
Particular Regions 
Most of the information in preceding pages applies more spe- 
cifically to Polynesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines than to other 
areas. Over so vast an area the various plants differ from place 
to place, but nowhere is there any need to suffer from hunger if 
a person will keep his eyes open and do a little experimenting. 
In the mountains of New Guinea, Java, and the Philippines the 
vegetation is less tropical than in other parts of the area, hence 
the food plants will be less tropical in character. In these 
regions, however, one can learn readily from the natives. 
Throughout Siam and Indo-China, countries sometimes in- 
cluded in Malaysia, there are the usual tropical plants and in 
addition true spine-covered chestnuts, some oaks with edible 
acorns, and a few wild apples and peaches. The common bracken 
fern of temperate regions, with tender uncoiling edible leaves, 
occurs there and the same kind of mulberries found in North 
America are present. In addition there is a forest tree called 
the longan (Fig. 36) which bears clusters of yellowish or yellow- 
ish-brown, smooth fruits that are delicious. The Chinese lychee 
or “China Nut” tree (Fig. 37) grows wild in the area. Wild rela- 
tives of the orange and grapefruit are also found. 
In tropical America there are many kinds of types of plants 
similar to those in Malaysia. These include palms, figs, papayas, 
bamboo, and bananas. Cashews abound along the roadsides and 
in overgrown fields. Wild tomatoes with small edible . fruits 
grow nearly everywhere. In northern South America the cow 
or milk tree yields a drinkable sap when the bark is cut. The 
cassava or tapioca is abundant but the bitter form is more 
common and must be prepared as previously suggested 
