86 Sketch of the Tropical Fruits likely to be worth 



opinion be correct or not, it will be sufficient to mention that 

 the Banana, (Musa sapientum), has a spotted stem, and 

 fruit much smaller than the Plantain, (Musa paradisiaca), 

 with a more mellow and less luscious, but yet more delicate 

 taste.* I am informed by Mr. Marsden that in the East 

 Indian Islands the word Pisang is always translated Plantain, 

 and that the name of Banana is unknown. 



Of the Tamarind, which is now so common an ornament 

 of our hot-houses, besides the little bad sort described by 

 Bontius, under the name of Carandje, or Carandjang,\ and 

 the one cultivated in the West Indies, which is usually called 

 the common one, there are three kinds in the East Indies ; 

 viz. a sort which differs from the West Indian kind in the 

 pods being much longer, with from six to twelve seeds ; a 

 second kind with sweet pulp, and a third kind with pink- 

 coloured pulp.J In Sumatra the tree grows to the size of a 

 large forest tree. 



Of the Guava there are two distinct species, both of which 

 form small straggling trees ; the one is called Psidium pyrife- 

 rum, or the Pear-shaped, and the other Psidium pomiferum, or 

 the Apple-shaped Guava. They are common in both Indies, 

 where they are cultivated for the sake of their fruit, which is 

 eaten either raw or preserved. In the latter case the rind 

 forms the Guava Marmalade, and the entire fruit the finest 

 jelly in the world.|| In the East Indies, however, they are 

 not so much esteemed as in the West Indies ; where they 

 are ranked among the best fruits of the Islands. 



* Dampier's Voyages, Vol. i. page 316. 



t Bontius Hist. Nat. et Medic. Indorum, lib. 6. cap. 4. 



{ Carey's Hortus Bengalensis, page 53. 



I! Hughes's History of Barbadoes, page 132. 



