NO. 39. — 1891.] ACCOUNT OF CEYLON. 



263 



Almost similarly so grows a fruit called water-melon, 

 sometimes as big as a man's head, and sometimes smaller. 

 The outside is green : when you open them, they are red 

 inside ; some have black, some red kernels ; they are very 

 juicy, and on that account cut into small slices, which are put 

 into the mouth to quench the thirst in the great heat.* 



There are also big gourds, and in great quantities ; they 

 are easily carried, and often, when we had to march and 

 were afraid of running short of water, we hollowed them out 

 and carried them well filled. Into the smaller ones we put 

 oil, and hung them to our bandoleers, so that in case of rain 

 we could clean our guns and be always ready to fire.t 



They have a kind of pear as big as a fist, called kujafen, 

 which grows on small trees of the height of a man ; the 

 colour is yellow ; inside are black kernels, and they are eaten 

 with the peel on, being very soft. J 



Other trees, about one and a half times the height of a 

 man, bear pappeyen, which are similar to our pears, and 

 oval : when they are ripe they are green outside, yellow 

 inside, very juicy and sweet, and melt in one's mouth ; in 

 the centre they have ash-coloured kernels, which are a 

 capital medicine against diarrhoea and dysentery. At times 

 they are cooked, and then have the taste of turnips ; they are 

 a very hot fruit. § 



The annassen, likewise, are so hot that the lips crack, even 

 if cut up like limes and soaked in water for a long time ; 

 they nearly resemble our artichokes, and are of a reddish 

 colour. || 



Similarly hot are the kaschauen, a fruit formed below 

 like a heart, but above is a chestnut which, when opened, is 



* Sin. komadu ; Citridlus vulgaris, or water melon, 

 f The bottle gourd, Lagenaria vulgaris (Seringe). 

 % G-uava ; Sin. per a ; Psidium guyava (Linn.). 



§ Carica papaya, the papaya, or papaw. " This word seems to be from 

 America, like the insipid, not to say nasty, fruit which it denotes." — 

 Hobson-Jobson, s. v. " Papaya." 



|| Ananassa sativa, the pine apple. 



16—91 t 



