1790 
"The kernel yields 56.9 per cent of slightly red- 
dish brown oil. 
"The oil from seeds from Zanzibar gave the fol- 
lowing analysis: 
"This is a non-drying oil, and has a pleasant, 
slightly sweet taste. It would be suitable for soap 
manufacture, and also as an edible oil. The seed is 
used by Europeans in this colony both as a nut and as 
a flavoring for cakes. 
"The reason these seeds are not more used is due 
to the hardness of the shell and the difficulty of 
removing it, as well as to the intensely bitter, green 
skin which separates the kernel from the shell. If a 
method could be found of removing the tough fibrous 
husks and this bitter skin, it would appear that the 
seed would be of considerable commercial value, both 
for its edible oil and for the manufacture of soap, 
as well as for the resultant oil cake which would 
probably make a good cattle feed. It would be impos- 
sible, however, to use the cake after pressing the un- 
husked seeds on account of the bitter skin. 
"A German syndicate of soap and candle manufac- 
turers at Mannheim has investigated the possibilities 
of these seeds, but expressed the opinion that it would 
be inadvisable to place consignments of the seeds on 
the European market until a machine had been invented 
for rapidly and cheaply shelling them. 
"These seeds grow very rapidly in any place which 
is not touched by frost. The fruit containing the seeds 
is about a foot in diameter when ripe. The vine climbs 
over neighboring trees and requires no care." (S. W. 
Eels, American consul, Nairobi, Kenya Colony.) 
Specific gravity at 15° C. 
Acid value 
Saponification 
Iodin value 
0.919 
2.6 
196.00 
89.00 
