1841.] Report on the Island of Chedooba. 361 



Its fruit is not much used by the natives. It is found growing indige- 

 nously on the second or old beach, but was observed nowhere else ; 

 with scarce an exception, this being also the situation of the villages. 



The mangoe grows wild to a great size. I have measured some of 

 more than 4 feet diameter — its fruit is very inferior, nor is it attempted 

 to be improved. 



Both the lime and the orange are found in many of the villages, and 

 thrive w r ell. 



The orange is of that sort named elsewhere the sweet lime, and if ex- 

 tensively cultivated would form a very grateful addition to the luxuries 

 supplied to the capital. 



Vegetables as fruits, are also of small amount. But here again as with 

 his orchard, the Mug looks to the jungle to make up the deficiency of 

 his garden produce. 



Yams are good and large, but plentiful only in the eastern parts. 



Many species of pumpkins and gourds are grown in almost every 

 garden; brinjals are very fine but not in plenty. 



A small shalot is grown in the gardens generally, and some fine onions, 

 which I was taking with me for my own use, were both so much admired 

 and demanded for seed, that this improvement to the Kitchen Garden, 

 will probably in due time become general. 



Chillies of all sorts are in every day demand for the curry. 



In introducing to notice the more natural productions of the Island, in 

 the vegetable kingdom, it may be well as before first to speak of the soil 

 in which they are found. 



This is with little exception of one character, a loose friable earth of 

 light yellow colour, having the general clay base much modified with de- 

 cayed vegetable matter, the angular fragments of soft sand-stone hav- 

 ing passed from a greenish into a dirty yellow colour, and being in a state 

 of rapid decomposition. 



The exceptions to this were found in a few spots to consist of a soil 

 bearing more of the character of mould. The above soil extends through- 

 out the interior parts of the Island, embracing all the hills higher and 

 lower down to those flatter lands which have been noticed as applicable 

 for the extension of rice cultivation, and constitutes that of the jungles, 

 which are co-extensive with it. 



These in their general character are open, consisting much of detached 

 clumps of bamboo or of trees from 1 foot to 18 inches in diameter, 

 well separated below, but in their branches having creepers thickly 

 entwined. Throughout the lower jungles, open spaces, some deserving 



