GOURDS AND PUMPKINS. 119 



away. Thus a jar was produced with a rounded 

 base, unable to remain erect unless placed in a stand 

 or hollow made to fit. Even when the gourd was no 

 longer used as a mould by the potter, these inconvenient 

 water-bottles were still manufactured in imitation of 

 the earlier ones. By cutting a slice off one side (a 

 tangential section of the fruit), and leaving the stalk 

 end stopped, a scoop or ladle is formed ; this is every - 



Fig. 46. GROUP OF GOURDS. 



where in use. Negroes can make a musical instrument 

 out of a Calabash, I suppose some sort of banjo ; but the 

 natives here have not sufficient ingenuity for this ; they 

 prefer to hire a barrel organ and take turns at the handle. 

 Decorated with various drawings and devices 

 these Gourd flasks (Fig. 48) are sold in all the shops. 

 At the Gourd Fete, held on the Cimiez hill under those 

 grand old Ilex Oaks, about March 25th, you may see 

 Gourds, " Cougourdon " the natives call them, of 

 every size and shape and price. The flower of 

 Lagenaria is white and perfumed. 



