Signs posted in various places on the island are put there to keep us safe. We can identify many of the trees on the island like the mango, breadfruit, oranges, papaya, lemon, lime, chenet, etc. Evidently, the Manchineel isn't one that we were able to identify.

We were walking on the beach on a rainy day and we came upon a tree than had little green apple-like fruit lying on the ground under it. Elder Ross thought they were chenets and picked it up to eat. I took one look and said that I wouldn't eat that. It isn't what you think it is. Let's be safe because some of the fruit here is poisonous. A few minutes later, after Elder Ross had rubbed his left eye, it began to burn. He had difficulty driving home because of the irritation and pain. We flushed it with water, eye drops, etc. Checking the internet we realized it was the Manchineel fruit that is more dangerous to touch on a rainy day. A tender mercy!

The Manchineel tree is not the one behind the sign! The tree behind the sign has a fruit called soursop that makes a good punch.




The Williams love to give us things from their garden. On the left is a stock of sugar cane. If you strip the black outer part and cut out a chunk of the fiber and suck the juice out of it, it is sweet and delicious. The papaya, pinneapple, chenets and mangoes are on the right. Mangos come in many sizes and varieties. The smaller ones have a better flavor.