THE MELON OF THE KALAHARI DESERT 25 
out. In the interior of this cave is a pit which is visited by 
natives who brave the fleas, as the earth in this pit is saline 
and salt is extracted. 
In these notes in many names both the English and native 
article has been used for the sake of clearness, i.e. ‘ the ’ El- 
geborit, ‘ the ’ El-kabeywa. It would probably be more 
correct to say ‘ The Geborit,’ 4 The Kabeywa.’ 
THE MELON OF THE KALAHARI DESERT 
By R. B. Woosnam, F.Z.S. 
It was suggested to me that it might be of interest to some 
of the members of this Society to hear something of the results 
of an attempt which I have made to acclimatise the wild melon 
of the Kalahari Desert (Cucumis coffer ) in the Southern Game 
Reserve of this protectorate. There is always an element of 
doubt in the introduction of any new plants into a country 
strange to them. But although the first seeds of this melon, 
which were planted last year, practically came to nothing I 
am glad to say that the second attempt during the present 
year has met with quite encouraging results. 
Before I tell you of the progress of the experiment I ought 
perhaps to give you some idea of the kind of country and general 
conditions under which this melon flourishes in its native wilds. 
The Kalahari desert, w r hich forms the stronghold of this wild 
melon, may roughly be said to be comprised by the north- 
western part of South Africa and extends from Lake Ngami, 
down past Kuruman and Prieska and Kenkart to the Orange 
River. This wild melon is, I believe, only found in any quantity 
in the northern parts of the Kalahari in N.W. Bechuanaland 
and the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and it is here that I 
have met with it. It is called by the Bechuanas hengwe 
and by the Dutch and English soma. In size it varies from 
an orange up to a man’s head or larger, and is of a dark green 
colour banded with lighter green stripes, and when fully ripe 
