THE EBONY FAMILY. 



817 



India. Like the preceding the seeds yield a fatty substance, 

 called Ghee, used as butter. An ardent spirit similar to 

 whisky is distilled from the flowers, which has proved as 

 injurious to European soldiers as the new rum of the West 

 Indies. They are eaten raw by the natives in the district of 

 Circars, and are also dried and preserved, forming a consi- 

 derable article of food. 



Shea, or Butter Tree of Africa (Bassia Parkii). A tree, 

 native of West tropical Africa. It attains the height of from 

 60 to 90 feet, and a diameter of from 6 to 9 feet. The leaves 

 are large and bright green ; the fruit is about the size of a 

 peach, but more oblong, consisting of sweet pulp containing 

 a bony seed. with a kernel, which after being separated from 

 the shell is pounded and boiled, when a fatty substance 

 swims on the top of the water, which is skimmed ofl", and 

 when cold resembles butter. It was first brought into notice 

 by Mungo Park, who found the trees abundant in the king- 

 dom of Bambarra. It is a great article of trade with the 

 natives, and forms an important part of their food. Shea 

 butter has the consistence of tallow, is of a pale lemon 

 colour, and has an aromatic taste. It is expected that when 

 the interior of Africa is more open, it will become an article 

 of trade to this country. 



The Ebony Family. 



(Ebenace^e.) 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate, simple, entire, generally 

 firm leaves. Flowers mostly axillary and solitary ; unisexual 

 or bisexual. Corolla urceolate, 4-dentate or cleft. Fruit 

 pulpy, round or oblong, drupe-like ; generally few- seeded. 



About 160 species are enumerated as belonging to this 

 family, the principal being found within the tropics, chiefly 

 in the eastern hemisphere ; represented in Europe and North 

 America by Diospyros. 



Date Plum (^Diospyros Lotus). A low-growing tree, native 

 of the South of Europe. It produces a small drupe, which is 



