A RAMBLE ALONG THE COAST 103 



large seeds embedded in a pulpy consistency, The 

 insipid fruit of the common cactus, or prickly- 

 pear, is much relished by the natives in hot 

 weather, who, I was assured, gather it in the early 

 morning, and before handling it, roll it about 

 under their callous feet in a tub of water to get 

 rid of the spines. The Cape gooseberry, the fruit 

 of Physalis Peruviana, is prized for making pre- 

 serves, and the plant has become naturalized. 

 Many of our European fruits are cultivated, but 

 produce fruit of a very inferior quality, the trees 

 being seldom, if ever, pruned, and receiving little 

 attention ; but apples, pears, plums, apricots, and 

 peaches, all come into the market in the course 

 of the summer and autumn, while strawberries 

 continue in bearing from the end of March till 

 September. 



The fruit-trees are more valued for the beauty of 

 their blossoms than their fruit by the English as a 

 rule ; and in spring, when the peach and apricot 

 trees are laden with their pink blossoms, the 

 country near the seashore, especially on the east 

 side of the town, is very beautiful. The rocky 

 nature of the ground in many places has made 

 cultivation impossible, and stretches remain where 

 the natural rock, covered with crustaceous lichens, 



