— 
265 
wild state, it grows to a larger size, is nearly as farinaceous, 
and destitute of the deleterious quality inherent in the latter. 
Itis worthy of remark, that, besides this plant, a great variety 
of others, native of the Cape, trees as well as herbs, yield a 
milky sap void of all taste; several species even of Euphorbia ^ 
are of this description; whereas, in cold climates, lactescent 
plants are invariably bitter or acrimonious. 
“ The stem of the Zamia cycadefolia, when stripped of its 
leaves, resembles a large Pine-apple. It is called the Hottentot 
Bread-fruit. These people bury it for some months in the 
ground, then pound it, and extract a quantity of farinaceous 
Matter of the nature of Sago. With infinite labour they dig 
the root of a species of Antholyza, which lodges at the depth 
of a foot or more in the hardest gravelly soil. To accomplish 
this, they are under the necessity of using an iron crowbar, 
and the produce of half an hour's toil, which they call Untjie, 
does not exceed the bulk of a chestnut. Various other bulbs, 
of the classes. Zriandria and Hexandria, are esculent; but 
the long period of time requisite for their full developement, 
will for eyer prevent their cultivation as articles of food.— 
The flowering spikes of the Aponogeton distachyon, known by 
the name of Water Untjie, are in high repute as a pickle.— 
The Arctopus echinatus * has recently acquired a consider- 
able share of reputation as an antisyphilitic. The discovery 
of its virtues is due to the Malays, who have been for a long 
time in the practice of using it. It has been tried by several 
of the medical gentlemen of the garrison at the Cape, and 
their r eport is, on the whole, favourable. The root bears 
some resemblance to that of the parsnep, and is the only part 
€ It is boiled in water, and the petes gine 
the extent of a quart daily. It operates without an 
— effect on e^ cath emai — iA ins 
yrica cifolia) grows along the coast, on dry s 
Plains anh — air, uh hardly any other plant 
"Neuf uu € 
_“* I had the good fortune to discover a second species of this plant, of whisk 
only one had previously been known, I gave ít, with the rest of my collection, 
to my friend, Mr, R. Brown." 
