CilAP. V,] 



75 



The Duriau grows on a large and lofty forest tree, some- 

 what Tesembling aii elm in its geucral character, but with 

 a more smooth and scaly bark. The fruit is ruuiid or 

 slightly oval, ahuut the size of a large cocoanut, of a 

 green colour, and covered all over with shurt stout spines 

 the bases of which touch each other, and are cousequc-utly 

 somewhat hexagonal, while the points are very strong and 

 sharp. It so completely armed, that if the stalk is 

 broken off it is a difficult matter to lift one from the 

 gi'ound. The outer riud is so thick and tough, that horn 

 whatever height it may fall it is never broken. From the 

 base to the apex five very faint lines may be traced, over 

 which the spines arch a little ; these are the sutures of 

 the carpels, and show where the fruit may be divided witli 

 a heavy knife and a sti-oug hand. The live cells aie 

 satiny white within, and are each iilled with au oval mass 

 of cream-coloured pulp, imbedded iu which are two or 

 tliree seeds about the size of oliestunts. Tliis pulp is the 

 eatable part, and its consistence and flavour are inde- 

 seribabla A rich butter-like custard highly tlavoured 

 with almonds gives the best genend idea of it, but inter- 

 mingled with it come wafts uf llavoiir that call to mmd 

 cream-cheese, onion-sauce, brown sheny, and utlier incon- 

 "rruities. Then there is a rich glutinous sratjolliuess iu 

 the pulp which nothing else possesses, but wliich adds 

 to its delicacy. It is neither acid, nor sweet, nor juicy, 

 yet one feels the want of none of these qualities, for it is 

 perfect as it is. It produces no nausea or other bad efi'ect, 

 and the more you eat of it the less yon feel iuclined to 

 stop. In fact "to eat Durians is a new sensation, worth 

 a voyage to the East to experience. 



When the fruit is ripe it falls of itself, and the only 

 way to eat Durians in periection is to get them as they 

 fall ; and the smell is then less overpowering. When nn- 

 ripe, it makes a very good vegetable if cooked, and it is 

 also' eaten by the Dyaks raw. In a good fruit season large 

 quantities are preserved salted, in jars and bamboos, and 

 kept the year round, when it acquires a most disgusting 

 odour to Envopeana, but the Dyaks appreciate it highly 

 as a relish with their rice. There are in the forest two 

 varieties of wUd Durians with much smaller fruits, one of 



