SESAME. NUTMEGS. 273 



hides of mules and oxen in the pastures on estates. This oil 

 is also applied by friction, as a remedy in rheumatism. It has 

 been remarked as a singular effect, that whenever animals that 

 have been rubbed with carapa oil are exposed to rain, the part 

 becomes swollen. The agouti and lapo are very fond of the 

 carapa seeds. 



Sesame (Sesamum or.ientale) . Although sesame, OYGrigeree as 

 it is called by Creoles, is cultivated here only by a few Africans, 

 for its oily seeds, yet it is well known that large quantities of it 

 are imported into France particularly from Egypt and the East. 

 The sesame oil is sweet, pleasant, and keeps a long time ; it will 

 even bear comparison with the best olive oil, and as a substitute 

 for the latter may be used for culinary purposes ; in fact, 

 Thunberg says that in Japan it replaces butter and lard. The 

 people here use it in preparing their food : they first heat, then 

 bruise it, and in that state mix it with their food. Sesame 

 grows in almost any soil ; it is planted in the beginning of the 

 wet season, and comes to maturity within four months or four 

 months and a half; for its reception the land must be well 

 prepared and thoroughly cleared of weeds. As the fruits, or 

 capsules ripen gradually, and grow along the upper part of the 

 stem, the latter is cut as soon as the lower capsules are ripe, 

 otherwise these split when dry, and the seeds are then lost. 

 When reaped they are tied in bundles, so as to keep the cap- 

 sules together and prevent their splitting ; they are then stored 

 up in some cool place. The seeds are very small and flat, and 

 are separated by merely beating or rubbing the bundles 

 with the hand. It is stated that sesame contains as much as 

 50 per cent, of oil ; and there is no doubt it might be cultivated 

 here to advantage if not for exportation, at least for culinary 

 purposes. 



Spices nutmegs (Myristica moscJiata). The nutmeg may 

 be said to be perfectly acclimatised in the colony, and it yields 

 nuts as good and fine as any which can be imported from the 

 Asiatic Islands ; it has not yet, however, been cultivated with a 

 view to commerce. The nutmeg tree requires a good moist soil 

 and plenty of shade ; it grows particularly well under protection 

 of the saman- tree. At St. Ann's government-gardens it yields 

 about 15 pounds per tree. Nutmegs sell here at 60 to 80 

 cents (2s. 6d. to 2s. lOd.) per pound. 



R 



