Image from page 101 of "The naturalist in Nicaragua : a narrative of a residence at the gold mines of Chontales; journeys in the savannahs and forests; with observations on animals and plants in reference to the theory of evolution of living forms" (1888)
Identifier: naturalistinnic00belt
Authors: Belt, Thomas, 1832-1878 Tippmann Collection (North Carolina State University). NCRS
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: London : Edward Bumpus, 5 & 6 Holborn Bars, E.C.
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries
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t was a roomy, comfortable house,commanding a view of the machinery, workshops, andpart of the mines on the other side of the valley, andformed my residence for upwards of four years. The slope in front of the house, down to the river, wascovered with weedy bushes when I arrived; but I hadthese cleared away, and a fine greensward of grass tooktheir place. On this I planted young orange, lime, andcitron trees; and I had the pleasure, before I left, to seethem beginning to bear their fine fruit. To the west ofthe house was a dell, covered with fallen logs and rubbishthrown from the hill, in which was a perennial spring E 66 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. V. of limpid water. I had the logs and rubbish gatheredtogether and burnt, put a light fence round it, andformed a small vegetable, fruit, and tlower garden. Themango and avocado trees had not come into bearingbefore I left; but pineapples, figs, grenadillas, bananas,pumpkins, plantains, papaws, and chioties fruited abun- ^ S^t-J^h:^
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roMMISSIONIUt S HOUSE AT SANTO IiOMlN-GO. dantly. The last named is a native of Mexico; it is aclimbing plant with succulent stems and vine-like leaves,and grows with great rapidity. The fruit, of which itbears a great abundance, is about the size and shapeof a pear, covered with soft prickles. It is boiled andeaten as a vegetable, and resembles vegetable marrow. Ch. v.] BANANA NOT INDIGENOUS. 67 At Santo Domingo, it continues to bear a succession offruits during- eight months of the year. Next to maize, plantains and bananas form the prin-cipal sustenance of the natives. The banana tree shootsup its succulent stem, and unfolds its immense entireleaves with great rapidity ; and a group of them wavingtheir silky leaves in the sun, or shining ghostly white inthe moonlight, forms one of those beautiful sights thatcan only be seen to perfection in the tropics. There area great many varieties of them, and they are cooked inmany ways—boiled, baked, made into pastry, or eatenas a fruit. Th
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