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attentions have produced an indelible impression on his mind. 

 This voyage had very fatal results ; a fever attacked most of 

 the individuals of the Expedition, Commodore Nourse among 

 the number, and M. Bojer was the only person who re- 

 covered. His valuable collections were, however, lost, for 

 want of necessary care ; — those from Madagascar, from the 

 banks of the Maronvoai, from Zanzibar, Pemba and Mom- 

 base, all perished. But at length he obtained seeds, in a 

 good state, of the much-desired Cucurhitaceous plant, which 

 he gathered at Zanzibar, where it is cultivated. 



The seeds brought home by M. Bojer were distributed to 

 more than forty persons, but only five female plants appeared 

 among their pi'oduce. The one grown at Reduit, the 

 country residence of the Governor, bore about a dozen 

 fruits, which did not, however, attain to so large a size as 

 what were seen at Zanzibar. The number of male plants 

 was much more considerable than of female ones. The 

 inhabitants of this country have received much advice on 

 the subject of the culture of this vegetable : but as its pro- 

 duce is not so large and immediate as they would desire, it 

 is to be feared, that, in spite of its great utility, some time 

 will elapse ere it is generally grown. Every fruit, weighing 

 about 60 lbs., bears from 200 to 300 seeds, each an inch in 

 diameter, and 3 or 4 lines thick. The net produce of each 

 fruit may therefore average 50 lbs. weight of kernels, and 

 yield 8 lbs. of excellent oil. 



The kernels are very good to eat, and were much used on 

 board the Andromache, both raw and prepared in various ways. 



The plant comes from the interior of Africa : it has been 

 recognized by many negroes, who call it in their own 

 language Souali-Koneme. When growing within reach of 

 trees, it climbs, and soon reaches the top of the highest. 

 Like other Cucurhitacecky it seems to prefer a light soil, and 

 the vicinity of water. In order to obtain the greater advan- 

 tage from its culture, it would be desirable to try the eifect 

 of grafting the male stems upon the female ones, and vice- 

 versa ; a female plant, fecundated by M. Bojer, produced 

 fruit at Petite Riviere. 



