NETTLE TREE. 271 



pression, and diluted with water ; that it affords a good 

 beverage, but will not keep more than ten days. 



Mr. Park describes the fruit as a small farinaceous 

 yellow berry, of a delicious taste : the natives, he says, 

 convert them into a sort of bread, by exposing them some 

 days to the sun, and afterwards pounding them gently in 

 a wooden mortar, until the farinaceous part is separated 

 from the stone. 



This meal is mixed with water and formed into cakes, 

 which, when dried in the sun, resemble in colour and 

 flavour the sweetest gingerbread. The stones afterwards 

 being put into a vessel of water, are shaken about to se- 

 parate the meal which may still adhere to them : this 

 communicates to the water a sweet and agreeable taste, 

 and, with the addition of a little powdered millet, makes 

 a pleasant gruel, called ftndi, which is the common 

 breakfast in many parts of Ludomar, during the months 

 of February and March. 



Mr. Brown, also, says that the natives eat the fruit 

 fresh, or dry ; that when dry it is formed into a paste of 

 pleasant flavour, and is a portable provision on journeys, 



The wood of the Lotus tree was used by the ancients 

 for flutes and other musical instruments. 



Besides the tree Lotus, now called the Rhamnus 

 Lotus, the ancients mention a herb of that name : Homer 

 describes it as a food given to the horses of Achilles, and 

 Virgil recommends it for sheep : 



" At cui lactis amor, cytisum, lotosque frequentis 

 Ipe manu, salsasque ferat praesepibus herbas." 



Georgic. iii. 



" But those who desire to have milk must give them with their 

 own hands plenty of water-lilies, and lay salt herbs in their cribs." 



MARTYV'S Translation. 



