THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
315 
having exactly the taste of water cresses, instead of which 
I have often used them. 
The custard apple is so called from the pulp having 
some resemblance in taste to custard pudding. The pulp 
is contained in a speckled shell like a fir cone, and has a 
number of black seeds mixed with its inside, which is 
nearly of the same consistence as that of the former. 
The tamarind grows in long green pods like those of our 
kidney-beans; but of a stringy and spungy texture. It 
contains a number of kernels, and is very acid, for which 
quality it is often made use of. The tamarind tree renders 
the air beneath its shade so unwholesome, that it is a general 
order with the troops, never to allow horses to be picketed 
there. This noble tree expands its branches so widely, that 
assemblies for religious and other purposes have been held 
under its shade, secure from the influence of the sun. The 
fruit is extremely refreshing, and very efficacious in fevers 
and dysenteries. 
The plantain is a small tree with wood of a soft nature. 
The leaves are very broad, long and green. As soon as 
this tree has borne fruit, the trunk dies, and a new one 
springs up through it from the root. The fruit grows at 
the top of the tree in bunches, resembling in shape our 
hog’s puddings, from six to twelve inches long, and from 
ten to twenty in a bunch. It is covered with a coat of a 
lemon colour, which is easily peeled off ; the inside when 
ripe is of a white or yellowish colour. It lias a pleasant 
s s 2 
