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the latter always presenting a slight appearance of redness. 
The people declare that this hue is miraculously assumed, and 
regard the change as an infallible sign of death to the accused. 
Yet, if this redness be exceedingly obvious, the relations who 
are present desire that such a fruit may be rejected, and 
another chosen; this proposal is probably agreed to, but the 
next fruit exhibits the same ominous presage, and the victim 
Several opinions are held by the natives on this subject. 
Some say that there are two kinds of trees, one poisonous, 
the other only emetic: and so similar in appearance, that 
none but the administrators know the difference, and that even 
they sometimes err, destroying when they intend to save, and 
vice versa. ‘This may be correct, the appearance only vary- 
ing as in the sweet and bitter almond; for it is worthy of re- 
mark, that any difference of flavour that may exist between 
the two kinds of fruit, is effectually concealed by the extreme 
bitterness of the Banana tree juice, in which the Tanghin is 
exhibited. Notwithstanding, I believe the prevalent, or at 
least the professed opinion among the natives is that the fruit 
is harmless, except ou occasion of the trial; but such an 
assertion may arise from fear. It is said that the Tanghin is 
sweet to the palate and stomach of the guiltless; and I heard 
a very intelligent native one day, on tasting a nut ont of my 
hand, aver that it was *sweet, very sweet," though to me the 
flavour was more intensely bitter than any thing I ever tried 
in my life. 
Another opinion is that the fruit undergoes a change by 
age, when a slight putrefaction or decay takes place, aud it 
becomes red and poisonous at the centre. It then falls from 
the tree, and is distinguished by being withered, and drawn. 
into wrinkles externally. I incline to think that this is the 
best founded idea. Some of the Tanghin fruit that I have 
purchased in the markets is whiter than others, and exceed- 
ingly bitter; but I should be sorry to put its poisonous quali- 
ties to the test of experience; at net while residing in we 
country. 
It is extremely probable that many of the alia are 
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