Fig. 13. Pineapple.
The boys had here the first opportunity to see the pineapple, which grew in patches along their path. The boys could not be restrained, and Angel was called into requisition. With his strong arms he broke off dozens of them, and the singular thing about it was he never made a mistake. His faculty for getting the ripe ones was unfailing.
“I didn’t know these grew here,” said Harry.
“Yes,” answered John; “but only in certain sections, or in particular soils. It grows in semi-tropical countries, and is a native fruit in Mexico, Central America, Guiana and Brazil. It is claimed that the pineapple contains all the essential elements of every fruit.”
“Did you ever see such leaves?”
“Many varieties have leaves over three feet long, and are valuable because the most beautiful silken fiber is found in them from which the finest fabrics are woven.”
CHAPTER XIV
THE WAGON IN THE FIGHTING ZONE OF FOUR TRIBES
The Professor had made a most careful examination of the population of the village, and an estimate of the total number of the Berees in the entire tribe. He found that their territory extended to the west and south as far as the ocean, and besides the village in which the chief lived, there were two or three others, smaller, and all contributed their quota to the warring force.
On the night before their departure, he questioned the chief as to the numbers in the different tribes, but of this he could only estimate the warriors.