THE LITCH1. 409 



those of the longan have eight; and the fruit of the 

 litchi being larger, and generally of a red colour, 

 while that of the longan is always brown. They are 

 moderately sized trees, with brown bark which is 

 very bright in the twigs. The leaves are large, have 

 some resemblance to those of the laurel, are placed 

 alternate, and hang very gracefully. The fruit is 

 produced in bunches, which are pendent from the 

 extremities of the twigs; and there is a considerable 

 number of fruit in the bunches, not close together, 

 like grapes, but on stalks, the principal ones from six 

 inches to a foot in length; while those of the indivi- 

 dual fruit are from one inch to two. 



Of both species there are many varieties in China, 

 which differ in the time of ripening, and the form 

 and qualities of the fruit. In general, the litchi is 

 about an inch and a half, or from that to two inches, 

 in diameter, and the longan about an inch and a 

 quarter; and both are covered with small scaly pro- 

 cesses, which are most prominent in the longan. 

 Both fruits are covered by tough, thin, leathery 

 coats, within which is the pulp, and in the inside of 

 that a single brown seed. The pulp is colourless, 

 semi-transparent, slightly sweet, and very grateful to 

 the taste. The Chinese prefer the longan, to which 

 they ascribe medicinal qualities; but Europeans give 

 the preference to the litchi, probably on account of 

 its larger size, and the greater beauty of its colour. 

 The litchi is often brought to this country in a dried 

 state, in which, though the pulp be much diminished 

 in size, it retains a very considerable portion of its 

 original flavour. From the beauty and flavour of 

 these fruits, and the perfection to which they have 

 been brought in this country, in all cases where they 

 have had a fair trial, it is by no means unlikely that 

 they may become common as hot-house fruit. 



VOL. II. 17* 



