TllK MOXTIIIA' BL'LLETIN. 17 



The fruit 1] in. long, J in. wide, almost oval, both ends blunt. Color 

 when rutal) is a beautiful carmine, \vhen dried chestnut brown, almost 

 black at apex. Flesh 3/16 in. tliick, dark brown, seed cavity large and 

 considerable tibre. Flesh pleasantly tough, flavor rather coarse. Seed 

 small, 5 in. long, I in. wide, loose in cavity. Usually eaten rutab, but 

 if properly cured will keep two years. In United States, but has not 

 fruited, so far as I know. 



]\Iadruki or Madruki. vulgarly Madluki or ]\Ialduki, "The Early 

 Ripening," a large, round, yellow date, very sirupy. Ripens mid- 

 season ; eaten as rutab or preserved in bags. Fairly common. Not in 

 United States. 



Masidi, "The Dripping," an important date in local commerce, 

 particularly on the Batinah coast, and ranked fairly high by the resi- 

 dents. Fruit small : light to very dark chestnut l)rown in color. 1| in. 

 long, f in. broad. Flesh i to 3/16 in. thick, light russet brown in color 

 and semi-translucent. Seed fairly large, ^ in. long, 5/16 in. broad; 

 some fibre. Skin rather tough. Flavor not well defined: indifferent 

 but not unpleasing. Said not to pack well, and I only saw it in bags. 

 Ripens late in season, keeps well, bears heavily ; highest priced of any 

 date on. the Batinah coast (where all dates are inferior). Not in 

 United States. 



]\Iubsali, a very popular date with the natives, although its name 

 seems to mean that he who eats it should be accursed. It is a very large, 

 yellow fruit, maturing midseason, and does not ripen on the palm, but 

 falls while still green. It is only eaten after being boiled. Begins to 

 bear at an early age and produces heavily; its fruit sells for almost 

 twice as much as that of the Fardh. Not in United States. 



Musbali Batinahi, a special variety gro^\'n on the Batinah coast, 

 and usuall}' called simply Batini ; inferior. It is 1^ in. long, | in. 

 broad, widest at or near the middle, but varying in this respect. Apex 

 blunt. Color (boiled specimen) a dark, caramel brown, flesh lighter in 

 color, Jt in. thick ; seed cavity very large, seed rather large and loose in 

 it; very little fibre. Seed ^ in. long, f wide, brown. Flesh soft and 

 yielding, instead of hard and brittle as with most boiled dates; flavor 

 sweet and reminiscent of molasses, with little astringency, but not at 

 all nutty. Not in United States. 



Murziban, "Foul Tongue," in the modern dialect, probably refer- 

 ring to the color of this yellow rutab of medium size, ripening in Sep- 

 tember. Trees scarce, yield light, keeping qualities poor. Not in 

 United States. 



]Muznaj, "Thirst Producer," a name often corrupted to Meznag, 

 Mejnaz or even Bzuag. A common variety which bears heavily in May 

 or early June, and is eaten as rutab. A long, slender, yellow date. 

 Has not yet fruited in the United States, I believe. 



Naghal, "The Bastard," a popular date because very early; usually 

 eaten rutab but also dries well. Long and slender, reddish-yellow in 

 color; scarcely distinguishable from Burni except by its smaller seed, 

 according to some native authorities. A common variety; bears well; 

 but has not yet fruited in California. 



Naghal Ililali, a common date, fairly long, and broad. Ripens in 

 early October; bears moderately; eaten either fresh or cured. Not in 

 United States. 



