1859.] ST. LUCIA AND BARBADOS. 67 



is a tree producing an unctuous berry, anything but palatable, 

 though extremely relished by the Negroes. 



Adansonia digit at a, one of the most gigantic specimens of 

 arborescent vegetation with which we are acquainted, is no doubt 

 an introduction from Senegal, though frequently met with in the 

 island of Barbados. 



The Seaside Grape [Coccolobo uvifera, Nat. Ord. PolygonacecB) 

 bears fruit resembling grapes, but very different from the fruit of 

 the Vine, being astringent and austere, but quite wholesome. The 

 same may be said of the Barbados Gooseberry [Pereskea acu- 

 leata), common both to St. Lucia and Barbados. 



The Gnava Psidium, of which there are many species, all pro- 

 duce delicious fruits. They belong to the Nat. Fam. Mijrtacece. 

 Their fruit, in taste and flavour, resembles a strawberry, and 

 from it the natives produce an excellent jelly. 



The Papaw-tree, a strange-looking plant {Carica Papaya, Nat. 

 Ord. Cucurbit acece), bears a fruit in size and taste like to a small 

 melon ; in taste it is far from agreeable. 



The Custard-Apple, or Sour-sop and Sweet-sop {Anona mu- 

 ricata and A. squamosa), are two small trees of the Nat. Ord. 

 Anonacea, bearing excellent fruits. The former, as the specific 

 name indicates, has an uncouth, prickly fruit, resembling in shape 

 and size a bullock's heart ; within it contains a slimy, subacid 

 liquor, imbedded in a fibrous and whitish substance very like 

 cotton-wool. Anona squamosa is much smaller, very sweet, and 

 almost destitute of acidity. 



The Cocoanut-tree. The uses of the tree and fruit are too Avell 

 known by every intelligent individual to require any remark. 



The Banana and Plantain [Musa sapientum and M. paradi- 

 siaca) are plants that produce excellent fruit. The former is ex- 

 tremely delicious, and tastes as butter and honey mixed ; the latter 

 produces a longer and more slender fruit, which is boiled or 

 roasted, and eaten with meat in the former instance and with 

 coffee in the latter. 



Theobroma Cacao, a small tree of the Byttneriacece family, 

 produces the well-known seeds from which chocolate is prepared. 



The Calabash-tree {Crescentia Cujete) is a small tree, with a 

 very large inedible fruit, the dry rind of which is used by the 

 Negroes to boil water in, and for other domestic and culinary 

 purposes : it belongs to the family Solanacece. 



