54 
The account of it in Dubois’ book whetted my appetite, as its 
description met a want which I knew to exist in a particular 
branch of business, and I wrote to him to the care of his 
publisher, and yesterday I received a most interesting letter from 
him from the Niger. A copy of it, as far as it refers to the Karité 
bean, I send for your information ; I daresay the whole of it is 
already known to you, but it may not be, and, in any event, will 
be interesting.” 
[ Enclosure. | 
Copy of letter from M. Felix Dubois to Mr. James Irvine, 
dated Dienne, July 2nd, 1897. 
My publisher forwarded your letter of May 10th, which reaches 
me here while on a fresh journey in the Niger country 
It is with the greatest pleasure that I send "you some 
information respecting the Karité tree. I can do so better from 
here than elsewhere. At this moment the Karité nuts are ripe— 
they resemble small green apples. 'lhe green skin is very 
agreeable to eat ; unfortunately on each fruit there is only a very 
small capi ee natives likeit very much. Under this skin is 
a large nut, in size and appearance like the Indian Chestnut 
(ZEsculus indica, gu ulePe with a thin light brown covering, and 
inside a whit 
It is this ne nut Mig gives the Karité butter. It Ep 
in faet just like chocolate. 'lo our European scent it is even 
nasty. In fact, this fruit is p. really known in Eu: 2n ont 
the very slightly scented butter which is produced 
On the other hand, the travellers (Mungo Park b p 
who were the first to notice it, probably were never present at the 
process of making the Karité butter, but contented themselves 
with the natives' account of the manufacture. Otherwise, certainly 
that smell of chocolate would have struck them. In order to be 
rid of that smell the nut must be taken out of the skin and dri 
When the dried nut is put in boiling water the smell of the chocolate 
leaves it, and the liquid takes the colour of chocolate. Also, I am 
told that certain of our officers in the Sondan have the uut 
roasted and ground, and then use it as chocolat 
(Signed) inate DUBOIS. 
Dr. Schweinfurth, in “ The Heart of Africa” hes 1,1 P. = 
refers in the following words to this useful tree, he sa 
fruit is as large as a good sized apricot, and is e in 
a green rind. This envelope can be kept till it is as enjoyable as 
a Medlar, and is considered one of the chief fruits of the country. 
From the kernels of this widely known tree an oil is expressed, 
which, — bed pave of * but za of Galam, is a recognised 
article of co in Gambia ; it has an unpleasant flavour 
which a it L not. at Can a lehio anti to the table, and 
80, for «d it has but an insignificant value. Its most valuable 
ope: that at a temperature: of 68° Fahr. it beco mes as 
solid as tallow. . 
“The tree ige is very handsome, having a bark which is 
regularly mar y polygonal rifts in its surface, and which 
permits it to to bel likened to an oak," 
