
13 
he sea. It is the universal food of the natives, and furnishes the 
very da 
settler with a very large proportion of his every day g 
well under the rudest preparation of the soil, and yet repays abundantly 
the outlay spent in thoroug d eful cultivation i 
generally known under the name of mealies; about three million 
bushels being the quantity produced in the Colony in 1884. L 
year’s (1886) crop was so large that it was estimated that it would 
considerably in excess of the home demand, and a channel for export 
t tannin substances, of which jd were exhibited, those 
of the greatest interest and the least known were the bark and root of 
Intolwana or Elands Bontjes (Blephantorriza ‘Burehellii), which has 
attracted some sention of late in in consequence the high per-centage 
Caffrum). The tree is anoeh at the Cape as the Kaffir Plum, and the 
wood is useful for cabi net-work. 
The following are Sana other specimens of less interest received 
from Natal :— 
Ground Nut oil cake from Arachio hypogea. Wild tea, from 
Geranium incanum. Concrete and crystallised Sugar, from the sugar- 
cane (Saccharum officinar um). Linseed (Linum usitatissimum). 
Extract of American Aloe (Agave americana), used in medicine: 
Tobacco, g leaf and cut. Fenugreek, the seeds of ( Trigonella Fenum 
Grecum), &c. &¢. 
CEYLON. 
The exhibits from Ceylon were very numerous and very varied ; 
specially prominent were the collections of woods and dru Neither 
some of the most im 
Cardamoms, the fruits of Elettaria rior omum.—A_ perennial 
herb, native of Southern ae and growing abundantly in rich humi 
elevated forests in North Canara, ea iad Wynaad. The fruits 
are gathered and dried, and then form the Cardamoms of commerce, 
which are valued for their agreeable aromatic character, and their 
apye : ie bak 
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum).—Some fine bundles of this 
important and well known spice were exhibited. These bundles were 
remarkable for the smallness of the quills of which they were composed, 
as well as for their pale even colour and delicate flavour. One bundle 
was obtained for the Museum 
like fruits of Vanilla Lange base a climbing 
Orchidaceous plant, native of sare where also now it is extensively 
cultivated, as well as in Mau , Bourbon, Nadigia and Java 
The pods after gathering are grr or dried by alternate ati to 
the sun and air, and wrapping in woollen cloths sometimes steepe oil. 
The vanilla of coaren is obtained from Mexico, Bourbon, cos, 
Java, Honduras, 
Areca Nuts 
ful; palm. found EETA Peninsular EEN Ceylon, South. 
grace 
China, the Phillipines, and the islands of the Malay Archipelago. The 
Areca, or Betel Nut as it is mostly called, is usually about the size of 
