98 THE AEGAN TREE OF MAROCCO. 



May and August (according to the situation of the tree). The roots 

 extend a great distance underground, and shoots make their appearance 

 at intervals, which are allowed to remain, thus doing away with the 

 necessity of transplanting or sowing. When the fruit ripens, herds of 

 goats, sheep, and cows are driven thither ; a man beats the tree with a, 

 long pole, and the fruits fall and are devoured voraciously by the cattle. 

 In the evening they are led home, and when comfortably settled in 

 their yards, they commence chewing the cud and throw out the nuts, 

 which are collected each morning as soon as the animals have departed 

 upon their daily excursion. I have heard it remarked that the nut 



^ 



passes through the stomach, but this is only a casualty, and not a ge- 

 neral rule. Large quantities of the fruits are likewise collected by 

 women and children : they are well dried, and the hull is taken off, 

 and stored for the camels and mules travelling in the winter, being con- 

 sidered very nutritious. 



" The process of extracting the oil is very simple. The nuts are cracked 

 by the women and children (and not a few fingers suffer at the same 

 time, owing to the want of proper tools, for the nuts are very hard, 

 and a stone is the only implement used) ; the kernels are then parched 

 in a common earthen vessel, ground in handmills of this country, and 

 put into a pan ; a little cold water is sprinkled upon them, and they are 

 well worked by the hand (much the same as kneading dough), until 

 the oil separates, when the refuse is well pressed in the hand, which 

 completes the process. The oil is left to stand, and the sediment re- 

 moved. The cake (in which a great deal of oil remains, owing to the 

 want of a proper press) is generally given to the milch-cows or goats. 



" I never heard of any part being used as manure, but I have no doubt 

 it would form an excellent one. 



" Some of these Argan% grow in clusters, others are single trees. 



cc 



" I have, etc., 



(Signed) Henry Grace. 



"* To J, H. Dnunmond Hay, Esq^., etc, etc. 



>> 



Except a brief notice of the exportation into Europe of Argan oil, by 

 the Danish Counsellor of State, Georges Host, who travelled in the 

 kingdoms of Marocco and Fez during the years 1766-1768, the only 

 published account of the uses of the Argan is given in a very little- 

 known Danish work, published by P. K. A. Schousboe, entitled ' Jagt- 



