THE JACK FRUIT TREE. 153 



clous fruit, as large as a good sized plum. It produces 

 a very large quantity of fruit, and there is not the least 

 injury to be feared from a free use of it. In that re 

 spect, it is like the mango. The fruit is dried in 

 India. Foo-chew Fo, in Fo-Kein, in China, is noted for 

 her leechees, and her trade in them in a dried state is 

 extensive. 



The leechee tree is not of equal importance as the 

 mango, but, as stated, it is of a delicious flavor, and 

 plentiful in the season, June, July, and August. 



THE JACK FRUIT TREE 



Is also a large tree, from 40 to 50 feet high. The 

 fruit grows from the stem of the tree. It is very large, 

 some equal to the largest sized water melon. The 

 skin is rough. The natives are very partial to it ; and 

 it is frequently served on the tables of Europeans in 

 India, in pies, &c. The tree bears from 30 to 60 fruit, 

 and as no care or attention is bestowed on the tree, and 

 bearing so great a quantity of vegetable food, it is one 

 of great importance with the natives. Another advan 

 tage is, the fruit arrives at maturity at irregular periods, 

 i. e. one jack may be ripe, when another is but of a very 

 small size on the same tree. I never was partial to the 

 fruit ; but once in my wandering through the immense 

 and gloomy forest of the Singphoo country, with one fol 

 lower, we found a jack tree, with one solitary fruit on it, 

 which saved us from starvation, and enabled us to make 

 our way. 



The wood of the tree is yellowish, and is capable of a 

 high polish. I believe it is the best wood in India for 

 printers blocks, &c. 



