PINE-APPLES. 177 



to the pumpkin family. One (Momordica 

 Balsamina) has small greenish- white flowers, 

 and bears a little scarlet-pointed fruit tasting 

 like melon. In its unripe green stage it is much 

 liked by the Kafirs, and I thought it very nice 

 sliced with oil and vinegar. Another has a fruit 

 which is a very good substitute for vegetable 

 marrow. Another variety called " Bindas," aud 

 which may Lave been introduced by the Banians, 

 bears long narrow five-sided pods, covered with 

 coarse rough hairs, which must be rubbed off 

 with a cloth before cooking. They are delicious 

 stewed with meat. One species is cultivated 

 only for its seeds, which are dried iu the sun, 

 and afterwards pounded up by the Kafirs to mix 

 with their fish. Water-melons and pumpkins 

 grow abundantly. 



There are a few orange, lemon, guava, and 

 mango trees, all introduced ; and the pine-apple 

 grows so freely in many parts that one can 

 hardly think it is not in its native soil. I have 

 seen it used as a fence round some of the kraals. 



A very nice drink can be made as follows : 



M 



