FRUIT. 31 



jyyrus Kaki?*) or Chinese date plum. One of 

 the varieties known by the Chinese under the 

 name of Ngnow, sum, tzee, or bull's heart 

 Diospyrus — (Ngnow signifying bull ; sum, heart ; 

 tzee, this particular fruit, the Diospyrus) — re- 

 sembles, in external appearance, a Tomata, 

 except in being of a larger size, and of a bright 

 red colour : when divided, it is found to contain 

 a yellowish semi-transparent pulp, not unlike 

 a plum eitlier in flavour or appearance, and 

 contains several oblong brownish seeds. The 

 outer skin has an astringent property, which dis- 

 colours the steel of a knife when employed to 

 divide the fruit, which is not at all requisite for 

 the purpose. The other kind is much smaller, 

 oval, about the size of a date ; being similar to 

 the former in colour ; it is called by the Chinese 

 Kai, sum, tzee, or fowl's heart Diospyrus : in 

 taste it closely resembles the mawkish sweetness 

 of a ripe date. I had only an opportunity of see- 

 ing two of the varieties of this fruit, but there are 

 several other kinds. "j' The flat peach, or "Peen 



'" The name Kaki is said to be Japanese ; this fruit is not 

 so named by the Chinese. 



t I had models of the two kinds just mentioned, executed 

 with great accuracy by a Chinese. The imitations of the 

 fruit were modelled from clay, and accurately coloured after- 

 wards according to nature. 



