226 JOURNAL OF THE TRINIDAD 



Benne seed or Ginjelly. Sesanum Orientate L. 



Sesame (fr.) Alegria (Sp.) Tili (H.) 



The seed of this plant (which has found its way to the West 

 Indies from Africa or still further east) is a well known ingre- 

 dient of sweetmeats in Trinidad. In India the cultivators 

 recognise two sorts, white (Safed-til) and black (kala-til). It is 

 grown in sandy land, and is rarely irrigated. It is reckoned 

 that an acre requires one-sixteenth bushel of seed and yields 1|- 

 2 bushels and occupies the land for three to four months. The 

 seed contains oil to the extent of 56 per cent, but the yield of the 

 usual pressuie processes is 45 to 50 per cent. The oil has a sp. 

 gr. of 0-923, Boiling point 100° C. congealing point 5° C. When 

 well prepared it is said to keep for years without rancidity. Jts 

 uses are cooking, medicine anointing the body and hair, absorp- 

 tion of the odors of flowers in perfume making, illumination and 

 the adulteration of olive oil. It is one of the most valuable 

 articles of export from India, and there is no reason why it 

 should not become a much more extensive and valuable minor 

 industry in Trinidad. 



The fresh leaves chopped and beaten in cold water, make a 

 cooling and refreshing drink, taken sweetened. If hot water 

 is used instead the liquid it becomes very mucilaginous, 

 and then is useful in all inflammatory intestinal disorders, especially 

 dysentery. Dr. Moringlane of Porto Rico cured with it cases of 

 dysentery which had resisted all other remedies, giving the drink 

 daily for a t!me, ; s well as daily' enemas of a very stong infusion. 

 If a quantity of the chopped leaves are boiled in water and then 

 allowed to stand near the fire for some hours, the resulting liquid 

 has the appearance and consistency of white of egg and has 

 similar properties. (De G.) The marc or oil-cake is excellent food 

 for animals, and according to Soubeiran and Girard 11 per cent, 

 of nitrogen is found in it. 



Niger-seed. Guizotia oleifera. 



Sirgiijia (H.) 



Much grown in some parts of India and Africa. It yields 

 about 35 per cent, limpid, sweet flavoured oil, much used as an 

 edible and lamp oil by the poorer classes in India. It is much 

 inferior to Gingelly oil, and is used to adulterate it. 



Active Principles of the Composite?. 



The following list of the Active Principles of the Com- 

 posite (extracted from Sohn's Dictionary of the Active Principles 



