Sapotee.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 263 
mountains of the Rajamundry Circars. The species of Chrysophyllum and Sideroxylon 
are confined to Silhet and the Peninsula. Dr. Roxburgh states with respect to Achras 
Sapota, that plants from China and from the West-Indies do not differ from one another. 
It was succeeding well in the Saharunpore Botanic Garden. 
Many of the plants of this family are known as affording edible fruits in different 
parts of the world: as Achras Mammosa, the American Marmalade. A. Sapota and 
Zapotilla; the different kinds of Star-apple or Chrysophyllum, especially C. Cainito. 
The kernels of Theophrasta Jussi@i, are made into a kind of bread in St. Domingo ; 
those of Znocarpus edulis are eaten in the Molucca Islands. The bark of several species 
of Achras is astringent, and used as a substitute for Peruvian bark; so in India the 
bark of Mimusops Elengi is astringent, and used in Native medicine, as is that of both 
Bassia latifolia and longifolia. Mimusops Kauki yields a gum like many trees having 
astringent bark, while its fruit is of a sweetish taste and much eaten by the natives of 
India. That of J. Elengi is less so, but the tree is highly valued for its fragrant 
flowers and the deep shade thrown by its highly ornamental, smooth, and shining 
leaves. The fruit of Chrysophyllum acuminatum, like the Star-apples of the West-Indies 
and of Western Africa, is greedily eaten by the natives of Silhet. (Roxb.) 
But the common species of Bassia, B. latifolia and longifolia, are much the most 
valuable in an economical point of view, as besides yielding parts useful in medicine for 
their astringent or emollient properties, their wood is valuable as timber, and a gum 
exudes from their bark. The fleshy, berry-like flowers, are eaten either raw or are 
dried (when they are described as tasting like dried grapes) and then roasted. Those 
of B. latifolia or the Mahwa (Sans. Madhuca) tree are, moreover, subjected to fermen- 
tation, and have a powerful and cheap spirit distilled from them; which is that 
principally drank in some parts of Northern India. The seeds also yield oil on 
expression. B. longifolia, or the Illupei tree of the Peninsula, is also celebrated for the 
quantity, as well as the uses to which, like that of the Mahwa, it is applied; being 
used as a substitute for that of the Cocoa-nut in cookery, as lamp-oil, and for making 
soap. But the most remarkable produce is that of the Fulwa or Phulwara, Bassia 
butyracea ; the Butter or Ghee tree of the Almora and Nepal Hills, which is of a delicate 
white colour, and of the consistence of fine lard, but without any disagreeable smell ; 
it is highly esteemed as a liniment in rheumatism, contraction of the limbs, &c., 
and when used by natives of rank is frequently impregnated with some fragrant aér. 
The tree very much resembles B. Jatifolia, but may be distinguished by its much less 
fleshy corols and more numerous stamens. It grows on the southern aspect of the 
Almora Hills, flowering in January and ripening its fruit in August. The kernels, 
about the size and shape of almonds, are easily extracted from the smooth chestnut- 
coloured pericarps, when they are bruised and rubbed up to the consistency of 
cream, and subjected to a moderate pressure in a cloth bag. The oil concretes imme- 
diately it is expressed, and retains its consistency at a temperature of 95°. (Roxb. 
As. Res. viii.) 
A resem- 
