WRAY’S ACCOUNT OF THE IMPHEES aiylad 
the juice of this variety, and of the Oom-see-a-na that I 
very much admire. In its growth and general appearance 
it is very much like the H-en-gha, but its stalks are brighter 
and more slender; its leaves are not so broad, and its seed 
vessels are upon shorter and stiffer foot-stalks. The stalks 
have a pinkish-red tint, which increases as they approach 
maturity; and the seed cases have a pink and purple hue, 
mixed with the general yellow ground. The Boom-vwa-na 
tillers very much, giving from ten to twenty stalks for one 
root; but they seldom weigh more than one pound each. 
I have obtained seventy per cent. of juice, which is easily 
clarified, and makes a beautiful sugar. The plant reaches 
perfection in from three to three and a half months. 
‘“‘Oom-see-a-na” (a variety of this misnamed “ Ota- 
heitan”) “is a peculiarly marked variety, in consequence 
of the purple or black appearance of its seed heads, arising 
from the sheath or seed cases being of this color, and not 
the seed itself. The seed head is very stiff and erect, 
with short strong foot-stalks, and the seed is large, round 
and full. In time of growth and goodness of juice, it is 
very similar to the Boom-vwa-na; its stalks are small, but 
numerous. ‘They both ratoon well from first cuttings. 
“« Shla-goo-va” (Red Imphee) “is slightly inferior to the 
three last named varieties, but is nevertheless very valua- 
ble, and much prized by the Zulus. It takes three and a 
half months to ripen, and becomes a tall, good sized plant, 
but its chief distinction is the exceeding beauty and ele- 
gance of its seed heads. The foot-stalks are extremely 
long, which causes them to have a graceful drooping, 
while the seed cases, or sheaths, vary in color from a deli- 
cate pink to a red, and from a light to a very dark purple, 
but each color very bright and glistening, forming on the 
whole an extremely beautiful appearance. 
“Shla-goon-dee. This is a sweet and good variety, and 
19* 
