(6) The pumpkin is peeled, cut up into fairly small pieces and boiled until 

 soft, then pounded groundnuts and salt are added and the mixture well stirred. 

 The dish is known as mamhoga by Yaos at Fort Johnston and is often eaten to 

 " break " the fast during the month of fasting of Mahommedans. 



(c) A small variety known as matanga in the Lilongwe District (N.A. 

 Chitukula) is cooked with added grouncbiuts and used as a side-dish. 



{d) In some areas, e.g., Ncheu and Dedza Districts, a few pumpkins are 

 dried each year for use as side-dishes. The fruit is cut into strips and sun-dried 

 and the dried product is called zigonyongo. 



Trials of different varieties of pumpkins for native use. 



Some ten varieties were tried out at Mwera Hill in 1941, many of these yielded 

 well and produced very large fruits, some of them up to 50 lb. in weight. One of 

 these, " Delicious " was very well liked as it was sweet and the flesh of a firm texture. 

 " Large Orange " although sweet was too watery for adult tastes, " Jumbo " and 

 " Golden Custard " were both rather tasteless and too watery, while the remainder, 

 i.e., " Hubbard Squash," " Turk's Cap," " Boer " and " Ironbark " were all liked. 



The leaves of most of the varieties were palatable and the leaf yield was good 

 with the exception of " Golden Custard ". The leaves of " Hubbard Squash '* 

 are very hairy and those of " Jumbo " are tough, hence both of these kinds need 

 soda or potashes to soften them. 



Unless, however, the varieties are kept well separated from each other they 

 rapidly cross and produce all manner of types. 



Ref. 23. 



156. Culcasia scandens (Willd.) P. Beauv. (Arac.) 



A climbing perennial plant sometimes procumbent, found only in evergreen 

 forest, with spear-shaped leaves and greenish -white spathes which are followed by 

 scarlet berries borne in dense spikes. 



The long thin, but strong, stems are used as tying materials in hut-building 

 (E.A.). The watery juice causes irritation of the skin and is used as a fish poison 

 (W.A.). Has medicinal uses (W.A.). 



Ref. 14; 15; 17; 26. 



157. Cussonia kirkii Seem. (Aral.) Deadman's fingers, Cabbage Tree. 



Mhwahwa (N, Y), candimbo (fruits, N., Y). 



A tree growing to about 30 ft. characterized by its gaunt and ugly appearance 

 when bare of leaves, leaves digitate, 7-9 foliate, petioles 5-7 ins. long, spikes of 

 flowers 8-16 ins. long, densely covered with small flowers, fruits very small, round, 

 black when ripe. The stem yields gum copiously when cut. Very common at 

 altitudes of over 4,000 ft. especially where land has been cleared for cultivation 

 as it is fire-resistant because of its thick corky bark. It is often left in maize gardens 

 for its partial shade. 



The ripe fruits are eaten in large quantities by children and the paths in the 

 Kota Kota 1 ills are strewn with the long fruit stems during the season, February 

 to March. An edible caterpillar, mabwabwa, feeds on the leaves. The wood is 

 soft and worthless, it makes very bad firewood and emits an objectionable smell 

 when burnt. 



158. C. spicata Thunb. (Aral.) Cabbage tree. 



Candimbo (Y). 



A tree of palm -like appearance up to 50 ft., branching at the top with crowded 

 leaves, bark thick, corky, grey with scars of old leaves, leaves evergreen, very large, 



45 



