BAST INDIA BUTTER TREE* 377 



iwatPr, has- somewhat the appearance of a Spanish olive. 

 The kernel is enveloped in a sweet pulp, under a thin green, 

 rind; and the butter produced from it, besides the advantage 

 of its keeping the whole year without salt, is whiter, 

 firmer, and to my palate, of a richer flavour, than the best 

 butter I ever tasted made of cows milk. The growth and 

 preparation of this commodity seems to be amongst th* 

 first objects of African industry, in this and the neighbouring 

 states; and it constitutes a main article of their inland 

 commerce." Park's Travels in Africa, page 203-8. 



In the following account of the bassia butyracca, by Bassia Butyra- 

 Mr. Gott, we find the people of Almorah eat the dregs, cea * 

 left after the finer parts have been extracted ; consequently 

 there can be little doubt of the wholesomeness of the pure 

 •vegetable butter itself. The thick oil of bassia lafifolia, 

 and longifolia, the natives of various parts of India 

 either use alone, or mixed with ghee (clarified butter), in 

 their diet. 



On captain Hardwicke's departure for England, in the Some given the 

 beginning of 1803, he gave me a small quantity of the author m1803 - 

 above-mentioned substance, observing, that the only ac- 

 count he could give me of it was, that it was reported 

 to him to be a vegetable product from Almorah, or its 

 neighbourhood, where it is called fulrcah, or phulwarah. 

 In consequence of this information I applied to Mr. Gott, 

 (who is stationed in the vicinity of that country,) to make 

 the necessary enquiries ; and from him I procured an abun- 

 dance of well preserved specimens, at various times, in 

 leaf, flower, and fruit. From these, and that gentleman's 

 account of the tree, and its product, the foregoing descrip- 

 tion was taken. 



The same sample, which I got from captain Hardwickc Keeps well, 

 in January, 1803, I have still by me. It remains perfectly 

 sweet, both in taste and smell. Its flavour is that of cloves; 

 having, I presume, been perfumed with that spice, previ- 

 ously to its falling into his hands, a practice mentioned ki 

 the following narrative. At this instant the thermometer is Consistent 

 at ninety-five, and for these six weeks, it has rarely been. 

 below ninety, and has ofteu risen to on^ hundred, or mora, 

 yet it continues about as firm as butter is in England during 

 winter, 



Mr. Gott's 



