396 DESCRIPTION OF BATAVIA CHAP, XVII 
the outside and about three inches long: it is seldom eaten 
raw, but when fried with butter makes very good fritters. (30) 
Catappa (Terminalia catappa) and (31) canari (Canariwm 
commune) are both nuts, the kernels of which are compared 
to almonds, and indeed are fully as sweet, but the difficulty 
of getting at their kernels out of their tough rinds and hard 
shells is so great that they are nowhere publicly sold, nor 
did I taste any others than those which for curiosity’s sake 
I gathered from the tree and had opened under it. (32) 
Madja (Iimonia), under a hardish brittle shell, contains a 
slightly acid pulp, which is only eaten mixed with sugar, 
nor is it then to be called pleasant. (33) Swnbul (Trichilia) 
is by far the worst fruit of any I have to mention: it 
is in size and shape much like the madja, as large as a 
middling apple, but rounder; it has a thick hide, containing 
within it kernels like the mangostan; its taste is both acid 
and astringent, without one merit to recommend it, indeed I 
should not have thought it eatable, had I not seen it often 
publicly exposed for sale upon the fruit stalls. (34) Blim- 
bing (Averrhoa bilimbi), (35) blimbing-bessi (Averrhoa caram- 
bola), and (36) cherrema (Averrhoa acida) are all three 
species of one genus, which, though they differ much in 
shape, agree in being equally acid, too much so to be used 
without dressing, except only blimbing-bessi, which is sweeter 
than the other two; they make, however, excellent sour 
sauce, and as good pickles. (37) Salack' (Calamus rotang- 
zalacea) is the fruit of a most prickly bush ; it is as big as a 
walnut, and covered over with scales like a lizard or snake ; 
these scales, however, easily strip off, and leave two or three 
soft and yellow kernels, in flavour resembling a little, I 
thought, strawberries : in this, however, I was peculiar, for no 
one but myself liked them. In short, I believe I may say that 
bad as the character is that I have given of these fruits, I 
ate as many of them as any one, and at the time thought I 
spoke as well of them as the best friends they had. My 
opinions were then as they are now; whether my shipmates 
may change theirs between here and home I cannot tell. 
1 A species of rattan cane. 
