garden at Liverpool, accompanied by a drawing of the 
plant, from, the pencil of Mrs. Horsrart. An excellent 
drawing of a flowering plant has likewise been sent to me 
from Antigua, by Dr. Nicuotson, which has materially 
assisted me in completing the present figure. | The fruit is 
copied from that given in the Flore Médicale des Antilles, 
but evidently much diminished im size, since it is described 
by authors as being sometimes much larger than the human 
head. Mr. Horsrant’s plant is growing so vigorously, and 
has borne flowers so readily, we are not without hopes 
that it may ere long produce fruit also: and it is this part 
which is well known in the West Indies and all the warmer 
parts of America, under the name of Calabash (Calabdca, 
a gourd, or pumpkin*, from its resemblance to that fruit,) 
and which they employ for so many useful purposes. The 
skin being removed from without, and the pulp with the 
seeds from within, the hard, woody shell alone remains, and 
serves, according to its size, for various kinds of domestic 
utensils, such as water-cans, goblets, coffee-cups, and even 
for kettles to boil water in “ it being so thin, hard, and 
close-grained, as to stand the fire several successive times 
before it is destroyed.’ The outside is often polished by 
the Indians, and carved and stained with various figures of 
beautiful execution. Various forms are given to the fruit, 
by ligatures applied while the fruit is still growing upon the 
tree, and so great a variety of purposes is it made to serve, 
that it sometimes constitutes almost the sole article of 
furniture of the Carib Indians. Much of their food is kept 
in Calabashes, and a small piece of the shell of the same 
fruit serves them to take it out with. The pulp of the 
fruit is considered in the country a sovereign remedy for 
several disorders, both internal and external. Dr. WricHtT 
recommends it as an excellent poultice for bruises and 
inflammations. 
The wood of the tree is described as being very tough 
and flexible, and various articles of carpentery work are 
made of it ; such as stools, chairs, saddle-trees, crooks for 
mules, shafts, and handles for tools, &c. 
Descr. 
— 
* Tam aware that Mr. Lunan, in the Hortus Jamaicensis, expresses a dif- 
ferent opinion, and supposes that “it derives its name from being as big as @ 
man’s head, which the Spaniards call calabash.” But I believe it will be 
found, that the term is only applied in contempt; as Cascos de Calabaga, 
Tee, empty-headed; having no more brains than a pumpkin- 
S/LELL, 
