124 DESCRIPTION OP THE TREE 



as had been expected -, and befides, a fmall quantity of 

 the feeds are gathered, and fent to all parts of the 

 empire, where they are ufed for nearly the fame pur- 

 pofes that almonds are amongfl us; but the demand in 

 this way cannot be confiderable. 



It is in times of fcarcity that the fruitbecomes valua- 

 ble. It is faid, when ripe, to be red; and, like a peach, 

 confifls of a fucculent outer flefh, containing a hard 

 fhell, in which there is a fingle feed. The outer flefhy 

 part is faid to be agreeably acid, and fafe to eat. When 

 that is removed, the fhells, by a flight beating, fplit 

 in two, and are thus eafily feparated from the kernel. 

 Thefe kernels tafle very much like a walnut ; but are 

 rather fofter, and more oily. As they can, at thofe 

 places where the trees grow, be afforded very cheap, 

 in times of fcarcity rhey are carefully gathered; and, 

 when boiled with a little rice or Indian corn, furnifh a 

 great part of the food of the lower clafs of the natives. 



I fhali now add fuch a botanical defcription of the 

 plant as will enable it to be reduced into the vegetable 

 fyflem; although not in every refpecl complete, owing 

 to my not having feen the tree or the ripe fruit. I be- 

 lieve it will be found to conititute anew genus ; but I do 

 not venture to give it a name, till the European bota- 

 nifts have afcei tained, whether or not it be reducible 

 to any known genu? of plants. In the botanical 

 defcnption I ufe the Latin language ; as I am not yet 

 fufficiently acquainted with the technical terms intro- 

 duced into the Eriglijh by the Litchfield Society, to ufe 

 them with facility. 



Character EJfentialis. Cal. i phyll, petala 5, recep- 

 taculo inferta, flam. 10, receptaculo inferta. Necl\ 

 maximum, orbiculatum, iofulcum 3 germen involvens. 

 Styli 5, conniventes. Drupa monofperma, nuce bi- 

 val\i. Habitat in montofis regni Barmanorum. 



Arbor elara ramis fulcis nudis; ramulis foliofis. 

 Ramuii flonferi glabri, rubicundi, viride-punc'tati; 

 fructiferi rimoii. 



Folia 



