88 Sketch of the Tropical Fruits likely to be worth 



AFRICA, 



At its northern extremity, produces no indigenous fruit of 

 importance, which is not common in Europe, except the 

 Lote tree, (Rhamnus Lotus), of which notice will be taken 

 presently. As we approach the Equator, and as the grand 

 features of vegetation change, the fruits of the country assume 

 a new appearance also. The Date, the Fig, and the Vine, 

 give way to other races, of which the very names are un- 

 known to Europeans. The only sort which resembles those 

 of the more northern latitudes is that just mentioned, which 

 grows in abundance over Fezzan, where it is called Cornu* 

 M. Desfontaines describes the Tunisian plant as producing 

 a berry of a sweetish taste ;f without bestowing any particu- 

 lar praises upon it. But the unfortunate Park, who found 

 it very commonly in the Kaarta country, in Ludamar, and 

 the northern parts of Bambarra, where it is known by the 

 name of Tomberong, speaks of it as excellent. The berries, 

 he says, are small and farinaceous, of a yellow colour, and 

 delicious taste. They are highly esteemed by the natives, 

 who convert them into a sort of bread, which resembles 

 in colour and flavour the finest ginger-bread.! The plant 

 has been many years an inhabitant of our green-houses ; and 

 is figured in the Me'moires de TAcademie Francaise for 1788, 

 plate 21. 



The Allobe, which Burckhardt saw at Shendy, brought 

 from Sennaar and Kordofan, was probably the fruit of the 



* Lyon's Travels in Africa, page 274. 



f Memoires de TAcademie, 1788, page 443.— Flora Atlantic*, Vol. i. page 200. 

 [ Park's Travels, Vol. i. page 99. 



