142 



Malacca Fruits. 



Art. VII. Reminiscences of a Visit to Malacca. By Mr. 

 James Main. 



Malacca is situated on the straits of that name, on the 

 south side of the continent of Asia, opposite the large island 

 of Sumatra. It is a considerable town, part of it fortified by 

 a high wall and fosse, skirted by a narrow glacis. The 

 country is thickly clothed with wood ; the soil is excellent, 

 and, if cleared, is fit for the production of spices, sugar, 

 rice, indigo, cotton, coffee, maize, and all kinds of tropical 

 fruits. 



Various spices are found wild in the woods, particularly 

 the nutmeg ; and, though not equal in quality to the nutmegs 

 of Ceylon and the Molucca Islands, yet, as an inferior spice, 

 they are of great importance in a commercial point of view. 

 Of ornamental trees, the -^schynomene grandiflora, the 

 Tectbna indica, Barringtonm speciosa, many species of 

 palms, and particularly the Michelia Champdca {fig. 39.), 

 a showy and odoriferous tree, 

 give a character of great rich- 

 ness to the masses of wood. 

 But the catalogue of fruits tran- 

 scends every thing of the kind 

 perhaps in India: for, besides ; 

 the fruits common every where 

 in the East, they have the Arto- 

 carpus integrifolia, Anndnas, 

 and the Carica Papaya, in great 

 perfection. Of the latter it may 

 be remarked that, though in the 

 class Dioe^cia, both male and 

 female plants produce fruit, only 

 the female tree always bears the 

 largest. The fruit weigh about 

 two pounds each, may be eaten with sugar as melons, but 

 are chiefly used as kitchen fruit. But, of all the delicious 

 fruits in India, none can equal in purity and delicacy of pulp, 

 richness of flavour, and refreshing coolness of juice, those 

 which follow : — 



The Mangosteen, Garcinm Mangostana [Jig. 40., full size), 

 is here in the highest perfection, growing wild in the woods. 

 It is said to be the most salubrious of fruits. The eatable part 



