10 



Malaysia, 



these the untravelcd American is already 

 familiar, for almost everything that grows 

 is brought to the markcts of our great 

 cities. Bnt two of thc spccial fruits of the 

 Malay world are unknown to Americaiis. 

 Thcy are the mangosteen and the durian. 

 Thc former is the size of an ordinary apple, 

 and grows on a low bushy tree, amidst 

 whose dark green leaves thc deep-purplud 

 skin mangosteen is found profusely. The 

 meat of the mangosteen is as white as 

 snow, and consists of pips like those of an 

 orange, compacted together. When taken 

 out of the shell tliis meat is as palatable as 

 the very best hothouse grapes. 



The durian is a fruit of another order. 

 It grows on a very large trce, is about the 

 size of a man's head, and is covered with 

 thorny spikes, — hence the name ("durian.'* 

 or "the thorny thing"). The shell of tl>e 

 durian splits open into canoe-shaped sec- 

 tions. The meat within gathers around a 

 few large seeds, and according to so acute 

 an observer as AHred Russell V\ r allace, **it 

 tastcs like a rich, creamy custard, with 

 wafts of brown sherry and onion saucc." 

 There is one serious disadvantage, how- 



