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wild state, it grows to a larger size, is nearly as farinaceous, 

 and destitute of the deleterious quality inherent in the latter. 

 It is worthy of remark, that, besides this plant, a great variety 

 of othei-s, native of the Cape, trees as well as herbs, yield a 

 milky sap void of all taste ; several species even of Euphorbia 

 are of this description ; whereas, in cold climates, lactescent 

 plants are invariably bitter or acrimonious. 



" The stem of the Zamia cycadafolia, when stripped of its 

 leaves, resembles a large Pine-apple. It is called the Hottentot 

 Bread-fruit. These people bury it for some months in the 

 ground, then pound it, and extract a quantity of farinaceous 

 matter of the nature of Sago. With infinite labour they dig 

 the root of a species of Antholyza, which lodges at the depth 

 of a foot or more in the hardest gravelly soil. To accomplish 

 this, they are under the necessity of using an iron crowbar, 

 and the produce of half an hour's toil, which they call Untjie, 

 does not exceed the bulk of a chestnut. Various other bulbs, 

 of the classes Triandria and Hexandria, are esculent; but 

 the long period of time requisite for their full developement, 

 will for ever prevent their cultivation as articles of food. — 

 The flowering spikes of the Aponogeton distachyon, known by 

 the name of Water Untjie, are in high repute as a pickle. — 

 The Arctopus echinatus * has recently acquired a consider- 

 able share of reputation as an antisyphilitic. The discovery 

 of its virtues is due to the Malays, who have been for a long 

 time in the practice of using it. It has been tried by several 

 of the medical gentlemen of the garrison at the Cape, and 

 their report is, on the whole, favourable. The root bears 

 some resemblance to that of the parsnep, and is the only part 

 used. It is boiled in water, and the decoction administered 

 to the extent of a quart daily. It operates without any per- 

 ceptible effect on the constitution. — The Candleberry Myrtle 

 [Myrica quercifolia) grows along the coast, on dry sandy 

 plains exposed to the sea air, where hardly any other plant 



" * I had the good fortune to discover a second species of this plant, of which 

 only one had previously been known. I gave it, with the rest of my collection, 

 to my friend, Mr. R. Brown." 



