109 



The next two compartments contain a large collection CASE 

 of tropical GoURDS and CALABASHES, some of remarkable 57. 

 size and shape ; they are principally the shells of the fruit 

 of Lagenarla vulgaris, Ser. They are employed for an 

 innumerable variety of purposes, — as domestic utensils, 

 drums, musical instruments, snuff-boxes, &c. The outer 

 surface is^often elaborately carved or painted. Specimens 

 are exhibited from China, East Indies, Australia, New 

 Zealand, and Central and Southern Africa. Dried gourds 

 imported from Zanzibar into Bombay for making the 

 natiye guitars (Tamboora) are considered much superior 

 to the Indian. [The name Calabash is also applied to the 

 shell of the fruit of Grescentia. See Case 87a. — In 

 Museum No. II., a huge Gourd is suspended from the 

 ceiling in the large room.J 



No. 284. Fruits of Liiffa acutangula, Roxb., var. 

 amara. A climbing plant met with all over India where 

 the fruits, seeds, and leaves are employed in medicine as. 

 an emetic, and the dried fibrous portion of the fruit serves 

 as a brush for sizing paper. 



No. 285. Towel Gourds or hooFAK&(LuffaaegijP' 

 tiaca, Mill.), cultivated throughout the tropics. The close 

 vascular network of the inside of the fruit serves as a 

 scrubbing brush, sponge, and to strain palm wine. It is- 

 also worked up into, light ornamental articles, baskets, &c. 



In the German army it is used for stuffing saddles, and 

 in the French as a lining for helmets. In a young state 

 the fruits are edible and have been grown in this country 

 under the name of SOOLY Qua. 



Observe fruit and model of fruit of Chijsese Wax 

 Gourd or White Gourd Melon (Benincasa ceriferay 

 Savi.). The plant is cultivated in China, Japan, India, 

 and Africa, and often met with in a wild state. The 

 White Gourd is used in India as a cooked vegetable, as a 

 curry, and also for the preparation of a sweetmeat called 

 heshim. The fresh juice from the fruit is used as a 

 specific for haemorrhage from internal organs. 



Note also fruits and seeds of the Naras {Aca^ithosicyos 

 horrida. Welw.). A prickly dwarf shrub confined to the 

 coast region of Angola and Dammaraland, bearing abun- 

 dance of pleasant melon-like fruits of which the natives- 



