Chap. XVII. 
NATIVE FRUITS. 
293 
this part of China than in any other with which I am 
acquainted ; and crops of sweet potatoes and earth-nuts 
abound on the sides of the hills. 
Amongst fruits, the plums are good, but inferior to i 
those we have in England ; the peaches are curiously | 
formed, but worthless. What may be more properly ' 
called Chinese fruits, such as le echoes, longans, and 
wangpees, are, however, excellent, the climate suiting 
them admirably. When I was here (in July) the , 
leechee-trees were covered with their fine red fruit, and | 
were very beautiful, the fruit contrasted so well with the j 
deep clear green foliage. Large quantities of oranges, 1 
citrons, and pumeloes are also found in the district of 
the Min ; but none of them were ripe at this season. I 
saw for the first time the tree commonly called the 
Chinese olive, from the resemblance its fruit bears 
to the olive of Europe ; also the Chinese date, which 
produces a fruit not unlike the date imported into 
England. 
In the fields in the vicinity of Foo-chow-foo large 
quantities of the sweet-scented J asminum Sambac are 
cultivated. It is used to decorate the hair of the ladies, ( j 
and to garnish the tables of the wealthy. I believe v 
that all the gardens, both in the north and south, are 
supplied with this favourite flower from the province of 
Fokien. Various other shrubs, such as Murraya ex- 
otica, Aglaia odorata^ and Chloranthus inconspicuuSj 
are grown for their blossoms, which are used for mixing j 
with the tea. ' 
During my stay here I received a great deal of kind- 
