THE NARAS. 37 



Sand Fountain, notmthstanding its disagreeable guests, 

 bad its advantages. Almost every little sand-hillock there- 

 about was covered with a " creeper," which produced a kind 

 of prickly goui'd (called by the natives naras), of the most 

 delicious flavor. It is about the size of an ordinary turnip 

 (a Swede), and, when ripe, has a greenish exterior, with a 

 tinge of lemon. The interior, again, which is of a deep 

 orange color, presents a most cooling, refreshing, and invit- 

 ing appearance. A stranger, however, must be particularly 

 cautious not to eat of it too freely, as otherwise it produces 

 a peculiar sickness, and great soreness of the gum and lips. 

 For three or four months in the year it constitutes the chief 

 food of the natives. 



The naras contains a great number of seeds, not unlike a 

 peeled almond in appearance and taste, and being easily sep- 

 arated from the fleshy parts, they are carefully collected, ex- 

 posed to the sun, dried, and then stored away in little skin 

 bags. When the fruit fails, the natives have recourse to the 

 seeds, which are equally nutritious, and perhaps even more 

 wholesome. The naras may also be preserv-ed by being 

 boiled. When of a certain consistency, it is spread out into 

 thin cakes, in which state it presents the appearance of brown 

 moist sugar, and may be kept for almost any length of time. 

 These cakes are, however, rather rich and luscious. 



But it is not man alone that derives benefit from this re- 

 markable plant, for every animal, from the field-mouse to 

 the ox, and even the feline and canine race, devour it with 

 great avidity. Birds* are also very partial to it, more es- 

 pecially ostriches, who, during the naras season, are found 

 in great abundance in these parts. 



insect has fixed itself with pipe oil. In cases of brute animals, I 

 have found tar to answer the purpose exceedingly well. 



* I have seen the white Egyptian vulture feed upon it ! This is, I 

 beheve, with one more exception, the only instance where this class 

 of birds are known to partake of vegetable food. 



