164 THE MALACHITE SUN-BIRD. 



prevent the cracks or scabs which are apt to spoil 

 his personal appearance. 



Indeed, the "fat -tree" is so precious to him, 

 that if any dearth of the nuts takes place, it is as 

 bad as a famine. 



Yet, like the rest of the uncivilized world, he 

 will not be at the pains to cultivate it. 



A lady, who was travelling in Africa, made 

 every attempt to see this wonderful tree. It was 

 not possible to reach it, so deep and dense was 

 the forest. But she witnessed the manner in 

 which the butter was prepared; and she brought 

 home a jar filled with it, and it kept sweet and 

 fresh to the end of the journey. 



She declared that in frosty, biting weather, 

 nothing that she had ever applied was more 

 healing to the skin. 



