394 DESCRIPTION OF BATAVIA CHAP, XVII 
made by five or six small triangles joined in a circle, and at 
the bottom several hollow green leaves, the remains of the 
flower. When they are to be eaten, the skin, or rather flesh, 
which is thick, must be taken off, under which are found 
six or seven white kernels placed in a circle. The pulp 
with which these are enveloped is what is eaten, and few 
things I believe are more delicious, so agreeably is acid 
mixed with sweet in this fruit, that without any other flavour, 
it competes with, if not excels, the finest flavoured fruits. 
So wholesome also are these mangostans, that they, as well 
as sweet oranges, are allowed without stint to people in 
the highest fevers. (19) Jambu (Hugenia malaccensis) is 
esteemed also a most wholesome fruit; it is deep red, of an 
oval shape, the largest as big as a small apple; it has not 
much flavour, but is certainly very pleasant on account of 
its coolness. There are several sorts of it, but, without much 
reference to kinds, the largest and reddest are always the 
best. (20) Jambu ayer (Eugenia). Of these are two sorts, 
alike in shape resembling a bell, but differing in colour, one 
being red and the other white; in size they a little exceed a 
large cherry; in taste they are totally devoid of flavour, or 
even sweetness, being nothing more than a little acidulated 
water, and yet their coolness recommends them very much. 
(21) Jambu ayer mawwar (Eugenia jambos) is more pleasant 
to the smell than the taste; in the latter resembling some- 
thing the conserve of roses, as in the former, the fresh scent 
of those flowers. (22) Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is 
the same fruit as in England, and everywhere else that I 
have met with it, in my opinion but ill repaying any one 
who takes the trouble of breaking its tough hide. (23) 
Durian in shape resembles much a small melon, but has a 
skin covered over with sharp conical spines, whence its name, 
dure signifying in the Malay language a spine. This fruit 
when ripe divides itself longitudinally into seven or eight 
compartments, each of which contains six or seven nuts, not 
quite so large as chestnuts, coated over with a substance 
both in colour and consistence very much resembling thick 
cream. This is the delicate part of the fruit, which the 
