216 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



In Japan, Thunberg informs us, " the sesamum 

 orientate was cultivated in many places ; and from 

 the seed, although very small, a fine oil was ex- 

 pressed, which was in general use here, as well as in 

 other places in India, for dressing of victuals and 

 other purposes *." 



The purposes he alludes to were medicine and 

 varnish. In China, Cochin-China, and Siam, as 

 well as in Japan, they take it as a resolvent and 

 emollient, and mix it copiously with their beautiful 

 and enduring varnishes. Herodotus mentions sesa- 

 mum as growing in Assyria, and fears his veracity 

 would be doubted if he stated the height to which it 

 attains there : he says, " The Assyrians had no oil 

 but what they extracted from the sesamum." It is 

 still grown in that country, as well as in Upper 

 Egypt, Dongola, Sennaar, Abyssinia, and indeed 

 through Africa generally. The African negros, 

 who are fond of its seeds as food, first introduced it 

 into America. The seeds have a warm taste not 

 unlike weak mustard. When the oil is first drawn, 

 this taste is disagreeably felt, but it soon wears off, 

 leaving a pleasant oil admirably adapted for salads, 

 and for all culinary purposes. 



ARACHIS OIL. 



The Arachis hypogea, or ground-nut of the West 

 Indies, is now cultivated in the departments of Landes 

 and L'Herault, in France, for the oil which its seeds 

 contain. This plant was originally brought to Eu- 

 rope by the Spaniards from Mexico, and introduced 

 into France from Spain. The seed yields most 

 abundantly a very valuable oil, which French writers 

 describe as being equal to that of olive for every do- 

 mestic purpose, and much superior for that of illu- 

 * Travels, vol. iii. 



