90 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
taste, and are larger than those of Europe; wliile tlie lemon- 
trees, which have for a long time been importeti by the Portu- 
guese, have so much degenerated, that the fruit is very small. 
The ananas, on the contrary, have a much better taste than those 
of our continent; and they are found throughout the year in the 
woods and on such soils as are inclined towards the water. The 
natives also cultivate them to some extent. 
Amongst the common fruit trees are the cocoa-tree, which 
is found in the greatest abundance on the river of Sherbro; the 
butter-tree, Mhich grows in every part; the tam.arind, of which 
there are several varieties ; and also a species of fruit w hich is 
hard and insipid, and which is eaten by the natives of the coun- 
try, w^ho call it massino. There is likewise the European |ig- 
]tree, which bears fruit no laiger than a walnut; it has an agree- 
able taste, but is not eaten, because it is filled widi insects. 
There is a tree of this genius peculiar to the country, w hich does 
not resemble the fig-tree in any respect except in its gravelly 
seed, and the fruit of which, the size of an ordinary pear, is al- 
most round, and very agreeable. The apricot-tree of the An-r 
tilles is here of a particular species, but is not inferior in taste 
to that in the West Indies. A sort of gooseberry called antedes- 
ma is very abundant, and its taste is exactly similar to that of 
our red gooseberry. The cherries of this country surpass in 
flavour all the other fruits, and can only be compared to that 
of the finest nectarine. 
Besides these, we find at Sierra L.eone the bread-fruit tree, 
which at a distance has the appearance of an old pear-tree, and 
grows abundantly in the low and sandy quarters. Its fruit is 
nearly the size of an apple. When fresh it is very nutritious, 
and its taste is simila;- to that of gingerbread; but it loses its 
odour on getting old ; the vine is also met with in these cli- 
mates; but its fruit, which is round, black, and acid, in no re- 
spect resembles the grapes of Europe ; the tree being of a spe- 
cies totally different. It is, hpw^vçi', iîupposed, that it might be 
ameliorated by culture. 
The leguminous productions are not so numerous ; and yet of 
these there are many varieties. A kind of sorrel, which is very 
common here, contains an acid similar to that of the ordinary 
species, without resembling it in any other respect. The purslain 
vv'hich rises three days after sowing, is commonly found on the 
hjlocks near the shore: it is said, that the leaves of this plant are 
a specific by simple application for wounds of all kinds. The 
.leaves of Û\e gombo are used as spinach; and the calalou may 
likewise be substituted for that plant. This vegetable is indige- 
lîous; and by springing from soils newly ploughed, indicates theiif 
eitility. 
