282 BOTANICAL NEWS. 
Cruciferce. Dr. Balfour criticized and condemned the views of Dr. Nevins on 
this subject, published in a late number of the ■ Liverpool Naturalists' Journal.' 
III. On the Palm-trees of Old Calabar. Extracted from the MS. Journals of 
the late Mr. William Grant Milne. By Mr. Sadler. The A ta ukot, wine 
palm, or common mimbo, is apparently an undescribed species of Raphia. It 
yields a very pleasant beverage, which is much appreciated by all classes of 
people who have the fortune, or rather misfortune, to touch the western shores 
of Africa. It has been cultivated by the natives for ages for its watery foun- 
tain. The trees are generally seven years old before they are tapped. At this 
age they are from 30 to 40 feet in height. The natives ascend the trees and 
pierce a hole to the centre of the stem immediately below the growing-point ; 
a small pipe is then inserted into the hole and led into a vessel which is fixed 
to the tree. In this way it is drained from time to time, which causes the tree 
to die, and it is then cut down to make room for others. The mimbo thrives 
best in damp situations, and such localities are generally chosen for its culti- 
vation ; at the same time, I have seen avenues of mimbo-trees on high sandy 
places leading to towns. The people employed to tap the mimbo are Ebebo 
slaves, which are purchased by kings and chiefs at public slave marts. I he 
Calabarians are not a climbing race. The Ebeboes are in practice superior m 
the art of " speeling." The liquid, when taken from the tree, has somewhat 
the colour of cream, and has a pleasant sweetish taste. This only lasts a tew 
hours, when it becomes tartish. The natives have certain barks which they 
bruise and mix with the liquid, which renders it intoxicating. It is sold in the 
public markets ; and in the Ebebo country there are mimbo public-houses, 
similar to our beer-shops. It is used by the missionaries' wives for making 
bread, being very subject to fermentation j the bread made with it is exceilen . 
The young leaves of the plant are split up into threads and made into fine 
bags. 2. The lya, or bamboo palm, is another species of the same genus 
(Eaphia). Its petioles are used for house building at Calabar, and all along 
the coast. These petioles are generally from 20 to 30 feet long. The fruit is 
used as an article of food, which is not the case with the last-named species. 
Many of the trees are from 50 to GO feet high. In the Fwet country the 
natives do not cultivate the wine-palm, consequently they tap the bain > 
but the wine is strong, and harsh, and unpleasant, and is very intoxicating. 
The inland kings and chiefs indulge themselves to excess in drinking bamboo 
wine, and consequently are always in a state of stupidity. The tree is PP 
in the same way as the mimbo, at the base of the growing-point. In the ^ 
country, at the foot of the Qua mountains, they use the wine of the oil-pa 
{Mais guineensis), which is inferior to that of the bamboo, being much harsher 
and stronger. In this case the trees are tapped about 2 feet from the gro i 
in the same way as already described. I never saw any of the natives m 
ited by this wretched wine, but I have no doubt that they can add ingredu-n . 
to it that will make it intoxicating. 3. Another species is the Afea oku u o^ 
or the white rod mimbo. The petioles of this Palm are white, while that ot^ 
Ata ukot are red. Its wine is equal m quality to that of the Ata **°\- , 
scales of the fruit are, however, much thicker than those of that species, 
