THE AKEE. 373 



as in those places of which it is a native, there cannot 

 be the least doubt ; and it has this advantag-e over 

 most other fruit trees, whether indifj^enoOs or exotic, 

 that it produces two crops in the year. 



We have already had to describe many fruits which 

 are indigenous to Africa, in noticing those of the 

 temperate climates. As we leave the northern parts 

 of that continent, and approach the Equator, the 

 date, the vine, and the fig, are no longer seen. 

 There is, indeed, a fruit, that of the Lote-tree 

 {Rhamnus lotus), which bears some resemblance 

 to the berries of Europe, and which Mungo Park 

 described as excellent. This plant is raised in our 

 green-houses. The Cream-fruit of Sierra Leone, 

 described by Dr. Afzelius to the African Society, 

 grows on a lofty tree, and yields a quantity of fine 

 white juice, from which it obtains its name. The 

 fruits of the interior of Africa have been but little 

 examined by Europeans ; and their very names are 

 unknown to us, with a few exceptions. They are, 

 probably, of little worth. Of those that have not 

 been found in any other quarter of the world, the 

 most singular are the follovvins;: — 



The Akee — Blighia sapida. 



This is a native of Guinea, from whence it was 

 carried to Jamaica by Captain Bligh in 1793. It 

 has grown well in the West Indies, and is there 

 much esteemed as a fruit. It was iiitroduced into 

 England in 1793. The leaves of the akee are some- 

 thing similar to those of the ash : the flowers are 

 small and white, and are produced in branched 

 spikes. The fruit is oblong, ribbed, and compressed 

 in the middle, of a dull oranj^e colour, and contains 

 several large seeds, to the end of which is attached 



2 K 3 



