142 PROPERTIES AND USES OF CRESCENTIACE.&. 



folia, Gardn.), the Calabash-tree of the British colonists, is so large 

 and durable that it admits of being converted into pails, bottles, pans, 

 cups, sieves, ladles, spoons, and various other household articles. 3 In 

 Panama I have seen milk-pans made of it, measuring thirteen inches 

 across. Even the shell of C. alata, H.B.K., the Tecomate of the Mexi- 

 cans, though much smaller than that of C. Ciijete, L., is nsed in Ma- 



Western 



4 The 



shell, or rather rind, of Kigelia pinnata, DC, after having been hard- 

 ened by drying, serves as frames for drams in Africa ; 5 and it is not 

 unlikely that the account given by the missionary Knoblecher, of the 

 shell of a fruit found on the White Nile, 6 and devoted to the same pur- 

 pose, refers to it. The fruit of the Palo de Velas, the famous Candle- 



ift 



Quaxhilote 



mentiera edulis, DC.) resembling a cucumber in shape, is eaten by the 

 Mexicans. 8 The berry of Tancecium Ulacinum, Seem. {Schlegelia lilacina, 

 Miq.), is also edible, 9 and the sub-acid pulp of the fruit of Urescentia 

 Cujete, L., affords food to the negroes. 10 Tussac believes that the fruit 

 of Crescentia cucurbitina, Linn., a common seaside shrub of tropical 

 America, contains a deadly poison, and hence he thought it necessary to 

 warn against it by changing the specific name of the plant into that of 

 C. letkifera. "I know myself/ 5 he says, "that some English soldiers 

 in garrison at the Mirebalis, who, having found the fruit possessed of 

 a cucumber-like taste, boiled and eaten it, were seized with dreadful 

 colic, and nearly all perished." 11 As this is the only instance of poi- 

 sonous properties being recorded of this Order, the statement must be 

 received with some caution ; possibly some fruits of the Manchineel- 

 tree, which generally grows in company with C. cucurbitina, may have 

 been mixed with those alluded to, and caused the accident. The Ga- 

 libis of Guiana extract a violet colour from the fruit of the c< Emosse- 

 bereoy" [Tancecium lilacinum, Seem.), with which they dye their cotton 



3 Seemann, Bot. Herald, p. 183. 



4 Seemann in Hook. Journ. and Kew Misc. vol. vi. p. 276. 

 6 Barth. in lit. ad auct. 



6 Kotschy in Bonpl., Jalirg. iv. p. 304. 



7 Seemann, Bot. Herald, p. 183. 



8 Be Candolle, Prodr. torn. p. 244. — Lindley, Vcg. Kingdom, p. 674- 



9 Seemann, Bot. Herald, p. 182. 



10 Lindley, Vcg. Kiugdom, p. 674. 



11 Tussac, fl des Antilles, torn. iv. p. 51. 



