92 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, 



Rambi, or Duku is cultivated in richly manured ground, the 

 fruits have comparatively thin and small seeds or nuts, while the 

 edible part is much augmented. The Li-chi [Nephelium litchi) 

 does not grow in Malaysia, though it finds its way in quantities 

 from south China to Singapore, and is seen abundantly in the 

 markets in July and August. This fruit appears to me to be 

 the most palatable of any in the East, deserving the saying of 

 Warren Hastings that it was almost the only fruit which deserved 

 to be regretted even amidst the plenty of Covent Garden. 



Anacardium occidentale, L., the Jambu-monjet of Malays and 

 the Cashew-nut of English, is a native of South America, which 

 is quite naturalised in Malaysia, so that one sees the fruit in all 

 the markets about the month of April. This has a very peculiar 

 appearance, being like a yellow or reddish tig, bearing at its base 

 a kidney-shaped seed. The sweet kernel inside is protected by a 

 husk saturated with an indescribably acrid oil, which corrodes 

 iron rapidly and marks linen with ine^aceable stains. The 

 Pomme d' Acajou, as the French call it, though attractive in 

 appearance and sweet to the taste, leaves a painful irritation on 

 the throat, so that they are seldom eaten raw. The green fruits 

 are very astringent, and serve to tan leather as well as to fix 

 dyes in fabrics. The ripe fruit used as a preserve is excellent and 

 wholesome. The nut is parched on a pan, and so is used as a 

 substitute for chocolate or as a means for its adulteration. The 

 Malays call the nut Casoe. 



Semecarpus anacardium, L., (Rengas meira, Malay), or the 

 Marking-nut, has become naturalised in Malaysia, and bears 

 racemes of what look like small Pommes d' Acajou the ripe fruit of 

 which is eaten. The mature corolla and receptacle are fleshy and 

 of a sweetish sour taste, but producing, unless cooked, much sub- 

 sequent irritation of the throat. The kernel of the nut can be 

 eaten, but scarcely with safety uncooked, for the juice contains an 

 acrid, viscid oil, used as an escharotic, which leaves a mark for life 

 on the skin, and often intractable and painful sores. It is used as 

 a medicine for elephants, but in excessive doses renders them 



