314 



* 



fruits utilised by natives as a source of cooking fat, and amongst 

 these is one much sought for, the katio or kachiau. The tree 

 producing this is a true Bassia, and is therefore entitled to the 

 name of ' Illipe.' The oil is a pale yellow liquid with an odour 

 like that of bitter almonds. From specimens supplied me by 

 Mr. J. Baring Gould, a careful examination of this oil has been 

 made recently by Mr. C. J. Brooks, of Bidi. Unfortunately it is 

 not at present obtainable in great quantity, and it does not appear 

 in the Kuching market ; the tree is common in the jungle of the 

 Saribas district, where the oil is well known." 



Parkia Africana, R. Br. [P. biglobosa, Benth.]. Leguminosae.— 

 A tree 40 to 50 feet high, native of tropical Africa. Pods and 



Mr. C. W 



fcmythe. Agricultural Superintendent, Sierra Leone. The tree 

 winch is known under various names, viz., African Locust 

 Kamdah, Oule or Houlle, Nitta, Nettie, Nutta, Arbre Sacre, 

 uoura, &c, is chiefly valued for the mealy pulp in which the 

 seeds are embedded. 



This is used by the natives as food and for the preparation of a 

 oeverage, the seeds being torrefied and used as coffee or chocolate, 

 in the feoudan the natives roast the seeds and after bruising them 

 anow them to ferment in water until they become putrid when 

 they are carefully washed, pounded into powder and made into 

 cakes which are described as excellent seasoning for all kinds of 

 tood, though they have an unpleasant smell. 



The leaves and roots are employed in medicine on the Gambia, 

 oemg beaten up with water and applied as a remedv for 



sore eyes. 



I rh I^ 11 T i J lg ob f rv ^ions and analysis of the fruit pulp 

 gathered from the Comptes Eendus, CXLVI. No. 4, Jan. 27, 



1908, 187. 



ParWa S,7 N * tte » N i« 0r N *«* produced by the fruit of 

 food mJfl ohosa \ B ™^ has been described by travellers as a 



however te 1 " ^H ^ by *? e Datives ' of tr °P Ical Africa - R is > 

 rnt^t be cZZi e y mm f flour ' as h con t a ^s no starch, but 



S the nod S d v I ^ Which is formed thlrin g the ri P pnin ^ 

 the trl^i n Z h ^ h the 8eed * a ™ embedded. Other genera c 



the samp ftimiw - n • 8eeas are embedded. Other genera of 

 appeamnoe hnft ?&' Ga T* and Ta ™™dw have fruit of similar 



An analysis of the pulp gave the following composition : 



• •• . •• 



■•' 



Water 



Asn — 

 Phosphates 



Total Nitrogen 



Substances soluble 'in carbon bisulphide l-1o 



alcohol ... ... 56 .' 67 



" n water ... 72*00 



Per cent. 

 4-90 

 4-96 



0-383 (as P 2 5 ). 



P 



