394 DESCRIPTION OF BATAVIA CHAP, xvn 



made by five or six small triangles joined in a circle, and at 

 the bottom several hollow green leaves, the remains of the 

 flower. When they are to be eaten, the skin, or rather flesh, 

 which is thick, must be taken off, under which are found 

 six or seven white kernels placed in a circle. The pulp 

 with which these are enveloped is what is eaten, and few 

 things I believe are more delicious, so agreeably is acid 

 mixed with sweet in this fruit, that without any other flavour, 

 it competes with, if not excels, the finest flavoured fruits. 

 So wholesome also are these mangostans, that they, as well 

 as sweet oranges, are allowed without stint to people in 

 the highest fevers. (19) Jambu (Eugenia malaccensis) is 

 esteemed also a most wholesome fruit ; it is deep red, of an 

 oval shape, the largest as big as a small apple ; it has not 

 much flavour, but is certainly very pleasant on account of 

 its coolness. There are several sorts of it, but, without much 

 reference to kinds, the largest and reddest are always the 

 best. (20) Jambu ayer (Eugenia). Of these are two sorts, 

 alike in shape resembling a bell, but differing in colour, one 

 being red and the other white ; in size they a little exceed a 

 large cherry ; in taste they are totally devoid of flavour, or 

 even sweetness, being nothing more than a little acidulated 

 water, and yet their coolness recommends them very much. 

 (21) Jambu ayer mauwar (Eugenia jambos) is more pleasant 

 to the smell than the taste ; in the latter resembling some- 

 thing the conserve of roses, as in the former, the fresh scent 

 of those flowers. (22) Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is 

 the same fruit as in England, and everywhere else that I 

 have met with it, in my opinion but ill repaying any one 

 who takes the trouble of breaking its tough hide. (23) 

 Durian in shape resembles much a small melon, but has a 

 skin covered over with sharp conical spines, whence its name, 

 dure signifying in the Malay language a spine. This fruit 

 when ripe divides itself longitudinally into seven or eight 

 compartments, each of which contains six or seven nuts, not 

 quite so large as chestnuts, coated over with a substance 

 both in colour and consistence very much resembling thick 

 cream. This is the delicate part of the fruit, which the 



