261 
* In the forest near Algoa Bay, I remarked three species 
of Cissus. The largest sort climbs up to the tops of the 
tallest trees, adorning them with garlands of the most vivid 
green. The leaf in its outline resembles that of the vy. The 
. fruit is larger than our red cherry, pulpy, grateful to the taste, 
and leaving the slightest impression of acrimony on the palate. 
Its colour is a deep purple. The fruit of the second species 
is of a greenish colour, the size of a common grape, rough to 
the taste, and intolerably acrid. "The leaf is fleshy, wrinkled, 
and divided into five lobes. The fruit of the third is about 
as large as a pea, of a purple colour, and sweetish taste. 
“Visiting Dr. Vanderkemp, at his Hottentot village of 
Besseldorf, he showed me a shrub growing plentifully in 
the district, the properties of which seem to entitle it to more 
careful notice. I did not see it in flower, therefore cannot 
describe its botanical characters. It rises to the height of 
seven or eight feet, in a close bushy form. ‘The leaves are 
about two inches in length, lance-shaped, and serrated. The 
fruit, equalling that of a small grape, is covered with a rough 
coriaceous capsule, which opens vertically into two sections, 
exposing to view a pulpy rose-coloured arillus. Within this 
envelope, which is of a delicate acid taste, is a kernel the size 
of a large pea, covered with a thin shell, and rivalling, HE 
taste and flavour, the finest filbert. By bruising these ker- 
nels, and boiling them in water, the boors procure a large 
quantity of oil, which they apply to various economical m 
Poses, and I have not the least doubt, that, if the fruit were 
subjected in a skilful manner to the press, it would yield 
an oil equa] in flavour to the finest extracted from the olive. 
Quere—Is this shrub a Dimocarpus ? ; 
The Speckboom (Portulacaria Afra) is common in. the 
eastern parts of the Colony, but does not grow 1n deve 
the Cape. It is an ornamental shrub. The leaves are 
small, cuneiform, fleshy, and of an agreeably acid a. The 
Wood is as soft asa cabbage-stock, and separates into thin 
layers, which exhibit a delicate gems n versis 
Paper Mulberry. n no part of the world, 1nceec, 
are the ornamental productions of the vegetable kingdom 
