BELIKERI. 



41 



fact rather a tree than a shrub, as it 

 attains a height of from fifteen to 

 twenty feet. The leaves are of a very 

 dark green, hard, shining, and brittle, 

 and resemble those of the cinnamon in 

 having two longitudinal fibres which 

 divide the leaf into three parts. The 

 fruit is of the same dark green colour 

 as the leaves, and is just the size of 

 a tennis ball.' When it is ripe the 

 rind breaks easily and discloses a bright 

 orange-coloured pulp in which are flat 

 brown seeds of the size of a shilling. 

 The pulp is eaten freely by birds, and 

 must therefore be harmless, the strych- 

 nine is contained in the seeds (which 

 the birds never touch) and in the rind 

 and leaves. 



Near at hand were two or three wild 



