Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1893 — The Snake-Nut of the West Indies. [ARTICLE]

The Snake-Nut of the West Indies.

A nut which should he classed with such wonderful vogetablo productions as tho “vegotable worm” of China, the “vegetable lly" of Australia, and other plant oddities of that ilk, is the snakenut of Demerara. This paradoxical vegotablo is said to grow also in some Earts of Cuba and British Guiana, tho rstspecimon in tho British Museum having boon sent from tho latter country. These remarkable nuts vary in dizd, sofne being as largo as a goose egg, others not larger than a wulnut. Tho kernel of 'each and every ono does not simply fboar a close resemblance,” but is a very counterpart of a boa constrictor lying coiled up as if asleep—the head, general taper of tho body, spots, and everything being true to life. When the kernel is yet unripe it may be unwound or uncoiled and straightened out. In this state, although it is then without the spots, tho resemblance to tho body, fangs, scales and tail of a reptile is simply extraordinary. Thoso who can overcome the natural aversion to tasting such a thing declare that the nut is one of fine flavor, being equal in every particular to tho cream nut or the English walnut.