CHAP. III. EDIBLE NUTS. 275 



Pine cone of the Apennines. This has clearly no identity with 

 the fruit which Herodotus describes as the food of the Lotophagi 

 of Egypt."* 



On this point Dr. Lindley states : " The Lote-Bush, which 

 gave its name to the ancient Lotophagi, is to this day collected 

 for food by the Arabs of Barbary. It is the Zizyphus Lotus of 



botanists." f 



In their unripe state the nuts of the Sacred Bean are eaten 

 raw, when to me they seem to have much of the flavour and 

 crispness of Filberts. On ripening they become hard, and are 

 then roasted before eaten. 



ANACARDIACEJE. 

 Pistacia vera. 



PISTACHIO NUT. 



Pista Bqddm. 



The well-known nut of this tree which, when fried in butter, 

 forms so delicious an addition to the dessert, is obtainable in 

 great abundance in the Cold weather in the bazars of most parts 

 of India. It is not, however, the produce of this country. 

 The tree is a native of Syria. Dr. Voigt states that it has been 

 introduced into the Calcutta Botanical Gardens, but is unaware 

 whether it has ever flowered there. It is not to be met with there 

 now, nor has been, as fas as I can learn, for many years past. 



Dr. Kiddel states that the nuts are brought from Bussorah in 

 great abundance. The Afghan traders, who bring them about 

 for sale, state that they obtain them from Balk, and that they 

 are not produced in Caubul. Dr. Lindsey Stewart, however, in 

 his 'Notes of a Tour/ mentions having found a good many 

 Pistacia in the Punjab Salt Eange. 



Anacardium occidentale. 

 CASHEW NUT. 



Hijlee Baddm Kajoo. 



The Cashew nut-tree is a native of this country, as well as of 

 the West Indies. Major Drury states, " that it grows to a large 



* Tennent's Ceylon,' vol. i. p. 123. f ' Vegetable Kingdom,' p. 582. 



T 2 



