By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



45 i 



Afzelius, in addition to the Hog Plum, gives* the verna- 

 cular names of seven kinds of what he calls Country Plums, 

 but without assigning characters or descriptions to any, and 

 he adds that there are many more not particularly known. 

 Mr. Don enquired for the plants by the names alluded to, 

 but they do not now appear to be in use in the colony. 

 He met with five distinct kinds, besides the Hog Plum, 

 which are successively described in the following articles, 

 and may possibly be referable to some of Afzelius's obso- 

 lete names. 



Parinarium. Jussieu. 

 Rough-skinned or Gray Plum. Parinarium excelsum. 



The tree which bears the fruit of this name is one of the 

 largest on the Sierra Leone mountains, to which it is con- 

 fined. When in flower, its terminal bunches of white blos- 

 som render it a peculiar ornament to the forest. The younger 

 branches are covered with minute white spots. The foliage 

 is striking, from the contrast of the colour of its two sur- 

 faces, the upper being dark green and the under nearly 

 white from pubescence; the leaves are oblong, alternate, 

 rather coriaceous, of moderate size and thickly disposed on 

 the branches. The fruit is greatly esteemed by the Negroes, 

 and is plentifully supplied in the markets ; it is produced in 

 the greatest abundance, and is about the size and shape of an 

 Imperatrice Plum, with a coarse skin of a grayish colour ; the 

 pulp is dry, farinaceous, and, owing to the size of the stone 

 small in quantity, with an insipid taste. The wood of the 

 tree is very compact and durable, and is applied to many 



* Ibid. No. 34. 1st. Besabis. 2d. Drap. 3d. Abooke. 4th. Machai, or 

 Mackanter. 5th. Magint. 6th. Malinta. 7th. Wanib^, 



