NATIVES OF BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 427 
somewhat like the “broad bean,” a fourth and fifth are small and white, a 
sixth and seventh are kinds of peas, an eighth is long and flat, and the ninth 
is excellent eating, rather small but oblong and dark chocolate-brown. Probably 
none of these beans is indigenous : they are all no doubt importations of ancient 
or modern date from the Mediterranean or Asiatic countries. Some of the 
smaller beans are eaten in the pod like “French beans.” 
There are two kinds of ground nut: the ordinary Arachis hypogcea and the 
large Voandzeia subterranea. The Cassava or Manioc of two or more kinds is 
abundantly cultivated and is often made into flour. One form of Cassava has a 
root which is without any of the poisonous qualities so associated with this 
Euphorbiaceous plant and can be eaten raw without ill effects even by 
Europeans. It has a pleasant nutty flavour and a creamy sap. The ordinary 
Cassava is made into flour, but the Missionaries manufacture from it excellent 
tapioca. 
Sweet potatoes are cultivated nearly everywhere. They are palatable and 
nutritious food. As is no doubt known to my readers the sweet potato is 
the tuber of a Convolvulus. The common potato {Solatium tuberosum) has been 
introduced by the Missionaries and thrives in the higher districts of the 
Protectorate. The natives grow it for trade with the European and do not 
much care to eat it themselves. The Tomato , a degenerate kind, grows 
semi-wild round most of the villages. Tobacco is cultivated everywhere and 
so is Hemp. The latter is smoked, the 
former usually taken in the form of snuff. 
The Sugar-cane is cultivated in the low- 
lying regions near water: so is the Sac¬ 
charine Sorghum , which like the sugar-cane 
secretes a sweet juice. As regards culti¬ 
vated Cucurbitacece there are about five or 
six kinds of what we should call “pumpkins” 
or “vegetable marrows.” One of these is 
like the American Squash with orange-red 
pulp, another is as delicious as any custard 
marrow grown at home. Of cucumbers 
there are two or three kinds, all very short 
and thick and one with large prickles on 
the rind. There is a water-melon (Dzembe 
or Liembe) and there are gourds, more 
grown for their bottle- or gazogene- or 
retort-shaped rinds (which make admirable 
receptacles, pipes, drinking vessels and 
bottles) than for their edible pulp. A 
leaves and flowers of certain pumpkins, 
universally cultivated. Small sweet bananas or red bananas are not common 
and are of recent introduction, Arab or Portuguese. The papaw tree 1 is 
fairly abundant of course as a cultivated tree : it is not indigenous. The Lime 
is met with in many villages but only those under English, Portuguese, or Arab 
influence. The Orange is very rarely met with and such trees as there are 
(except those on Mount Mlanje) are of young growth. The Castor oil plant 
is (seemingly) indigenous, though one scarcely meets with it far from a native 
settlement. It is grown for the oil, which is not used medicinally but chiefly 
1 Carica papaya. 
NORTH NYASA NATIVE 
SMOKING HEMP FROM A PIPE MADE OUT OF A 
“gazogene-shaped gourd” 
and of spinach is made from the 
The Plantain or large banana is 
