MANGO. — PEPPER TREE. 73 



resembles that of our Walnut and is used in Japan; but 

 it is far inferior to the timber of Diospyros Jibcnuni, 

 from South India and Ceylon, and other allied species 

 which ^'ield Ebony. The black "heart-wood" of this 

 tree was prized e\'en in ancient times, and it was con- 

 sidered the most valuable of all woods. Not onh' 

 Theophrastus but the Old Testament also is full of 

 its praises. The remarkable closeness of its grain and 

 its dark colour make it ver\' valuable. Ebon\- has 

 alwaj's been easih' distinguished from stained wood b\' 

 its weight. 



The Mango tree, Mangifera Indica belonging to the 

 Anacardiaceae, which bears the most delicious fruit of 

 the tropics, will not grow at Mortola; but other trees 

 of this family ma\' be seen there. For instance Schiin<s 

 Mulle, a tree with bright green pinnate leaves and 

 bunches of red berries, which is ver}- commonly met with 

 in the gardens and on the roads of the Riviera. It is 

 called "Pepper Tree" because of its berries which are 

 like pepper-corns but it is not related to the real pepper. The 

 true pepper. Piper nigriiDi, comes from a slender East 

 Indian liana, which climbs like the Ivy, clinging to its 

 support by aerial roots. The berries of Sc/n'm/s Molle 

 resemble those of the true pepper both in appearance 

 and llavour. A drink made from these berries in Peru 

 and Brazil is said to taste like wine. 



Another interesting plant at La Mortola, belonging 

 to the Anacardiaceae, is Rhus S7icceda?ica which ^'ields 

 the Japanese wax, and HJius ve.rnicifera, from whose 

 milky juice the Japanese prepare their famous lacquer. 



