PLANTS. 307 



shining green ; flowers yellow, furrowed, and ventricous. 

 Fruit of various sizes, according to the different kinds of 

 tree ; in form resembling gourds, but in structure alto- 

 gether different. The rind or outer covering is tough 

 and woody, -clothed with a green skin, within this is a 

 fleshy pulp, enclosing many seeds, but being very bitter, 

 can not be eaten, although it is sometimes used in pul- 

 monary cases. The rind is the only part employed for 

 any purpose, but the natives of the West Indies and 

 South America consider it to be of infinite use, and make 

 a variety of domestic utensils from it. One large cala- 

 bash with the neck cut off serves to hold water, another 

 of a smaller size, cut in half, is used as a dish, in which 

 beans and hominy are served ; the fruit of another variety 

 or the necks of the larger, form drinking cups ; other 

 segments are employed as spoons, cupping-glasses, pow- 

 der-horns, etc. The Indians are careful to plant the 

 different species of the race, and very well understand 

 how to paint and ornament them. They manifest con- 

 siderable skill in cutting various figures on the rind 

 while it is still green, and some of these ornamented 

 calabashes are very beautiful. Others, adorned with 

 feathers, and each provided with a movable piece of 

 wood which turns like a handle, are partly filled with 

 pebbles and used in their religious ceremonies. Much 

 attention is paid to the noise of the rattling pebbles 

 within, being used as a species of divination to predict 

 the future. Vessels made from the cabalash will not 

 bear the action of heat. h. 



The Sesamum or Oily Seed (Sesamum indicum) ; 

 stem erect, four feet in height ; leaves lanceolate, with 

 petioles ; thimble-shaped flowers ; seeds whitish-yellow, 

 in angular two-celled capsules. Native of East Indies. 



