56 PENTANDRIA. 



market all over the sourthern districts of those king* 

 doms. 



Mango Park, in his travels in the interior of 

 Africa, observed two negroes sitting among some 

 thorny bushes, who had been gathering tomberongs, 

 of which he gives this account: — "These are small 

 farinaceous berries, of a yellow colour and delicious 

 taste, which were no other than the fruit of the 

 Rhamnus Lotus of Linnaeus. They had gathered 

 two large baskets-full in the course of the day. 

 These berries are much esteemed by the natives, who 

 convert them into a sort of bread, by exposing them 

 for some days to the sun, and afterwards pounding 

 them gently in a wooden mortar, until the farina- 

 ceous part of the berry is separated from the stone. 

 This meal is then mixed with a little water, and 

 formed into cakes, which, when dried in the sun, 

 resemble in colour and flavour the sweetest ginger- 

 bread. The stones are afterwards put into a vessel of 

 water, and shaken about, so as to separate the meal 

 which may still adhere to them ; this communicates 

 a sweet and agreeable taste to the water, and with the 

 addition of a little pounded millet makes a pleasant 

 gruel called fondi, which is the common breakfast in 

 many parts of Ludamar, during the months of Fe- 

 bruary and March. The fruit is collected by spreading 

 a cloth upon the ground, and beating the branches 

 with a stick. 



(( The Lotus is veiy common in all the kingdoms 



