THE GOURD TRIBE. 81 



narrow part wliicli represents the neck of tlie bottle, 

 and then scooping out all the inside ; but it is neces- 

 sary before using them that all the pulp should be 

 removed, and that water should be allowed to stand 

 in them, and be changed several times, till all the 

 bitterness in which the rind abounds be removed ; 

 owing to the purpose to which the fruit is then applied 

 the plant itself is called the Bottle-Gourd, 



The bitter matter which is thus removed by wash- 

 ing, is not onlv unpleasant, but actually poisonous, 

 as the unfortunate accident I have alluded to suffi- 

 ciently proved. You will be surprised to hear that 

 it exists universally in the whole of the Gourd tribe, 

 even in the Cucumbers and Melons which you have 

 so often eaten without being poisoned ; the truth is, 

 that in these fruits the bitterness is dispersed through 

 so large a quantity of pulp, and there is so little of it, 

 that we are not sensible of its presence ; while in the 

 Bottle-Gourd and others, it is so highly concentrated 

 as to become dano-erous. That it is found even in 

 the Cucumber you may easily believe, if you call to 

 mind how often that fruit is bitter even when upon 

 the dinner table. 



You will therefore recollect that the Passion-flower 

 tribe is universally harmless ; but that the Gourd 

 tribe is so often unwholesome, that the two or three 

 instances you know of its fruit being eatable are to 

 be considered exceptions to the rule. 



The length of this letter has already so much (;x. 

 ceeded my intention, that I must bring it to a close 



