NUTMEG -TREE. 139 



and much inferior in quality, comes from Holland in solid masses, 

 generally flat, and of a square figure : the third, which is the worst 

 of all, and usually called common oil of mace, is an artificial com- 

 position of sevum, palm oil, and the like, flavoured with a little 

 genuine oil of nutmeg. 



In the act of gathering and preparing nutmegs, the natives, when 

 the fruit is ripe, ascend the trees, and gather it by pulling the 

 branches to them with long hooks. Some are employed in opening 

 them immediately, and in taking off the green shell or first rind, 

 which is laid together in a heap in the woods, where in time it pu- 

 trefies. As soon as the putrefaction has taken place, there spring 

 up a kind of mushrooms, called boleti moschatyni, of a blackish 

 colour, and much valued by the natives, who consider them as 

 delicate eating. Wheu the nuts are stripped of their first rind, 

 they are carried home, and the mace is carefully taken off with a 

 small knife. The mace, which is of a beautiful red, but afterwards 

 assumes a darkish red colour, is laid to dry in the sun for the space 

 of a day, and is then removed to a place less exposed to his rays, 

 where it remains for eight days that it may soften a little. They 

 afterwards moisten it with sea water, to prevent it from drying too 

 much, or from losing its oil. They are careful, however, not to 

 employ too much water, lest it should become putrid, and be 

 devoured by the worms. It is last of all put into small bags, and 

 squeezed very close. 



The nuts, which are still covered with their ligneous shell, are for 

 three days exposed to the sun, and afterwards dried before a fire, 

 till they emit a sound when they are shaken ; they then beat them 

 with small sticks, in order to remove their shell, which flies off in 

 pieces. These nuts are distributed into three parcels; the first of 

 which contains the largest and most beautiful, which are destined 

 to be brought to Europe ; the second contains such as are reserved 

 for the use of the inhabitants; and the third contains the smallest, 

 which are irregular or unripe. These are burnt ; and part of the 

 rest is employed for procuring oil by pressure. A pound of them 

 commonly gives three ounces of oil, which has the consistence of 

 tallow, and has entirely the taste of nutmeg. Both the nut and 

 mace, when distilled, afford an essential, transparent, and volatile 

 oil, of an excellent flavour. 



The nutmegs which have been thus selected, would soon corrupt 

 vol. v. K 



