154 BOTANY OF CONGO. 



Congo, was foiincl abundantly near the moutli of the 

 river. 



The remarks I have to make on Esculent Pkmts, my 

 knowledge of which is chiefly derived from the journals of 

 Captain Tiickey and Professor Smith, and the communi- 

 408] cations of Mr. Lockhart, may be here introduced ; the 

 cultivated as well as the indigenous species being very 

 similar along the whole of the west coast. 



On the l)anks of the Congo, as far as the expedition 

 proceeded, the principal articles of vegetable food were 

 found to be Indian Corn or Maize {Zea Mays) ; Cassava, 

 both sweet and bitter, {latroplia Manihot L.) ; two kinds 

 of Pulse, extensively cultivated, one of which is Ci/tisus 

 Cajan of Linnaeus, the other not determined, but believed 

 to be a species of Fhaseohis ; and Ground Nuts [AracJiis 

 liypogaa L.) 



Tiie most valuable fruits seen were Plantains {Musa 

 sapieyitim) \ the Papaw {Carica pajoaya) ; Pumpkins {Cucur- 

 bita Fepo)\ Limes and Oranges [Citrus meclica et auran- 

 tiuiii) ; Pine Apples [Bromelia Ananas) ; the common Tama- 

 rind {Tamarindus indica) ; and Safic, a fruit the size of a 

 small pluQi, which was not seen ripe. 



One of the most important plants not only of Congo, but 

 of the whole extent of coast, is Elceis Gitineensis or the 

 Oil Palm, from which also the best kind of Palm Wine is 

 produced. Wine is likewise obtained from two other species 

 of Palms, which are probably Fiaplda vinifera, and the 

 supposed Coryplia^ considered as an Hyphsene by Professor 

 Smith. 



Among the other Alimentary Plants which are either of 

 less importance or imperfectly known, may be mentioned 

 the " Shrubby IIolcus,'' noticed by Captain Tuckey (p. L3S) ; 

 the common Yam, which j\Ir. Lockhart informs me he saw 

 only near Cooloo ; and another species of Dioscorea found 

 wild only, and very inferior to the Yam, requiring, accord- 

 ing to the narrative, " four days boiling to free it from its 

 pernicious qualities." On the same authority, " Sugar 

 Canes of two kin.ds " were seen at Embomma, and Cabbages 



