The Souari-Nut. 281 



but interesting, at the present moment, in the circum- 

 stance of its having ripened in the open-air, in the Tresco 

 Abbey gardens. The height attained is thirty to fifty 

 feet ; the leaves are oval, about four inches long, entire, 

 and glossy; the small white flowers grow in terminal 

 clusters ; the fruit resembles a small yellow plum. 



THE SOUARI OR SURAH-WA-NUT 



(Caryocar nudferum). 



THE Souari-nut is one of those very desirable additions 

 to the dessert which unfortunately reach this country in 

 quantities so small that to the public in general they 

 are unknown. It never remains in the shops for many 

 days, being at once taken up by purchasers acquainted 

 with the fine qualities. In dimensions the souari stands 

 next to the coco-nut, measuring about four inches by 

 three. The shape is peculiar, being somewhat that of a 

 wedge, rounded at the back, two flat sides, and a long 

 straight narrow base. The entire surface is covered with 

 close-set roundish protuberances; the colour is a deep 

 reddish brown. Souari-nuts are, after all, only seeds, 

 coming out of a pericarp the size of a child's head, and 

 which usually contains four, though often only two or 

 three. The kernel is pure white, soft and fleshy, the mild 

 flavour approaching that of almonds. The tree to which 

 we are indebted for it is a native of tropical South 

 America, abounding especially in Essequibo and Berbice. 

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