S26 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE, 
All the fruits mentioned as sold in the market grew in spontane- 
*ous abundance, as did the sugar cane : the oranges were of a 
large size and exquisite flavour. I believe this fruit has hitherto 
been considered indigenous to India only. We saw no cocoa nut 
trees, nor was that fruit in the niarket. Mr, Park's route was 
through a very different country.* In the marshy ground, a large 
species of fern is very abundant, there are four varieties of it; in 
shady places that have been cultivated, various tribes of urtica; and 
the Icontodon grows abundantly to the north of Coomassie. The 
miraculous berry, which gives acids the flavour of sweets, making 
limes taste like honey, is Gommon."f The castor oil, (ricinus com- 
munis) rises to a large tree, I have only seen it as a bush about 
three feet high on the coast ; and the wild fig is abundant, though 
neither of them are used by the natives. The cotton plant is very 
plentiful, but little cultivated. The only use to which they apply 
the silk cotton, is to the stuffing of cushions and pillows.^ Mr. 
* It is observable, however, that although many species of the edible roots which 
grow in the West India islands, are found in Africa, yet I never saw, in any part of my 
journey, either the sugar cane, the coffee, or the cocoa tree; nor could I learn, on 
inquiry, that they were known to the natives. The pine apple, and the thousand other 
delicious fruits, which the industry of civilized man (improving the bounties of nature,) 
has brought to such great perfection in the tropical climates of America, are here equally 
unknown. I observed, indeed, a few orange and banana trees, near the mouth of the 
Gambia ; but whether they were indigenous, or were formerly planted there by some of 
the white traders, I could not positively learn. I suspect that they were originally intro- 
duced by the Portuguese." Park's First Mission. 
■f The curious fruit mentioned in the introduction, and to which I have given the 
name of oxyglycus, I find was known to Des Marchais, who describes it as a little red 
fruit, which, being chewed, gives a sweet taste to the most sour or bitter things. Dalzel s 
Dahomey. 
t Cotton of the cotton tree (or silk cotton) Bomhax Pentandrium Lin. This cotton 
is not made into thread, but is used for making pillows and beds. It is also, from its 
catching fire so easily, commonly put into tinder boxes, and employed in the preparation 
of fire works. Ainslie's Materia Medica of Hindostan. 
