Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 301 



which are the same nearly as at the present day. I imagine 

 this to have been the real gourd of Jonas. They grow rapidly 

 when well watered, and wither immediately when left dry ; 

 in a few weeks forming dense shady arbours, under which the 

 people of the East sit and smoke. When the fruit is young, 

 it hangs down inside the arbour like candles ; in this state it 

 is cut, and boiled with forced meat, stuffed in the hollow part 

 with rice ; it is then called dolma by the Turks ; and is in 

 such general use, that a large district in the vicinity of Pera 

 is called Dolma Bakche, or Gourd Gardens, from the culti- 

 vation of these plants." 



Cucurbita cidariformis. " The production of this gourd, 

 as given by the ancient writers, is curious : a gourd was planted 

 in Campania, in the vicinity of a quince, and it immediately 

 adopted its form in addition to its own. In fact it resem- 

 bles a large quince, laid on the top of a flat melon. This 

 curious fruit is called here the Turk's turban, which it re- 

 sembles in shape and vivid colours. It is too rare to be sold 

 in the markets, but is cultivated in private gardens, and used 

 in soups." 



Cucurbita aurantia, and pyriformis. " These exactly re- 

 semble the fruit after which they are named ; the one an 

 orange, and the other a pear." 



Cucurbita potiro. " The gourd most in use in Constanti- 

 nople ; the fruit is heaped up in large piles, and kept under 

 tents in the markets for six months in the year. There are 

 two kinds or varieties : one long, with orange-coloured fruit; 

 the other round, with white-coloured fruit. They are called 

 by the Turks bal cabaghi, and used in all their soups." 



Cucurbita sp. ; Evadghi cavac, Turkish ; by far the largest 

 gourd in these countries ; it is quite white, and in the markets 

 resembles huge snow-balls, particularly so, as it is in season 

 in winter." 



Cucurbita citrullus. The famous water-melon, so highly 

 prized and universally used all over the East ; it is the great 

 luxury of the common people in Constantinople, and refreshes 

 the hammals, or porters, like ale in England, and tea in 

 China. Strangers are warned by writers against the intense 

 cold of this fruit ; but the people of Constantinople devour it 

 alone, without pepper, or any other aromatic, in the hottest 

 weather, with perfect impunity. The Turks call it carpoos ; 

 and give the same name to their artificial globes, from their 

 resemblance to this fruit, which is a perfect sphere. 



Cucumis melo ; several varieties. " Six varieties of melon 

 are cultivated in Asia Minor, particularly about Angora. — 

 There is one variety so very delicate, that the seeds were given 



y 2 



