whole groves of them, on high, and sandy grounds, where no other fruit trees will grow. 12th. We may add, that the owls, squirrels, lizards, dogs, and jackals, take a share of the flowers; but the vulgar belief is, that the latter, especially in the time of blossom, are apt to grow mad, by too much feeding on them. Bassia obovata, Forster's Prod. No. 200: a native of the Isle of Tanna, in the South Sea. Of this species I possess no other account than the definition, which cor responds with the habit of the genus. If Forster has left us no account of the uses of the tree, it may be worth while to make inquiry, when an opportunity offers. Park's shea, or butter tree of Africa, we have reason, from his description, and figure, as well as from analogy, to suppose a species of this same genus. At page 352 of his travels in the interior of Africa he says, "The appearance of the fruit evidently places the shea tree in the natural order of sapote, (to which bassia belongs,) and it has some resemblance to the madhuca tree (bassia latifolia,) described by Lieutenant Charles Hamilton, in the Asiatic Researches, Volume I, page 300. "The people were every where employed in collecting the fruit of the shea trees, from which they prepare a vegetable butter, mentioned in the former part of this work. These trees grow in great abundance all over this part of Bambarra. They are not planted by the natives, but are found growing naturally in the woods; and in clearing woodland for cultivation, every tree is cut down but the shea. The tree itself very much resembles the American oak; and the fruit, from the kernel of which, first dried in the sun, the butter is prepared, by boiling the kernel in This commodity, shea toulou, which, literally translated, signifies tree-butter, is extracted, by means of boiling water, from the kernel of the nut, has the consistence and appearance of butter, and is in truth an admirable substitute for it. It forms an important article in the food of the natives, ahd serves also for every domestic purpose in which oil would otherwise be used. The de mand for it is therefore great. Park's Travels in Africa, Page 20. water water, has somewhat the appearance of a Spanish olive. The kernel is enveloped in a sweet pulp, under a thin green rind; and the butter produced from it, besides the advantage of its keeping the whole year without salt, is whiter, firmer, and to my palate, of a richer flavour, than the best butter I ever tasted made of cows milk. The growth and preparation of this commodity seems to be amongst the first objects of African industry, in this and the neighbouring states; and it constitutes a main article of their inland commerce." Park's Travels in Africa, page 203-8. cea. In the following account of the bassia butyracea, by Bassia ButyraMr. Gott, we find the people of Almorah eat the dregs, left after the finer parts have been extracted; consequently there can be little doubt of the wholesomeness of the pure vegetable butter itself. The thick oil of bassia latifolia, and longifolia, the natives of various parts of India either use alone, or mixed with ghee (clarified butter), in their diet. On captain Hardwicke's departure for England, in the Some given the beginning of 1803, he gave me a small quantity of the author in 1803. above-mentioned substance, observing, that the only account he could give me of it was, that it was reported to him to be a vegetable product from Almorah, or its neighbourhood, where it is called fulwah, or phulwarah, In consequence of this information I applied to Mr. Gott, (who is stationed in the vicinity of that country,) to make the necessary enquiries; and from him I procured an abun dance of well preserved specimens, at various times, in leaf, flower, and fruit. From these, and that gentleman's account of the tree, and its product, the foregoing descrip tion was taken. The same sample, which I got from captain Hardwicke Keeps well. in January, 1803, I have still by me. It remains perfectly sweet, both in taste and smell. Its flavour is that of cloves; having, I presume, been perfumed with that spice, previously to its falling into his hands, a practice mentioned in the following narrative. At this instant the thermometer is Consistent. at ninety-five, and for these six weeks, it has rarely been below ninety, and has often risen to one hundred, or more, yet it continues about as firm as butter is in England during winter. Mr. Gott's Account of the tree. Native country. Nut. Mr. Gott's account of the tree, and its product, is as follows: The tree producing a fat-like substance, known in this country by the name of phulwah, is a native of the Almorah hills, and known there by the same name. The tree is scarce, grows on a strong soil, on the declivities of the southern aspects of the hills below Almorah, generally attaining the height, when full grown, of fifty feet, with a circumference of six. The bark, of such specimens as I have been able to obtain, is inclined to smoothness, and speckled; it flowers in January, and the seed is perfect about August, at which time the natives collect them, for the purpose of extracting the above substance. On opening the shell of the seed or nut, which is of a fine chesnut colour, smooth, and brittle, the kernel appears of the size and shape of a blanched almond; the kernels are bruised, Fat expressed. on a smooth stone, to the consistency of cream, or of a fine pulpy matter; which is then put into a cloth bag, with a moderate weight laid on, and left to stand, till the oil, or fat, is expressed, which becomes immediately of the consistency of hog's-lard, and is of a delicate white colour. Its uses are in medicine; being highly esteemed in rheumatism, and contractions of the limbs. It is is also much esteemed, and used by the natives of rank, as an unction, for which purpose, it is generally mixed with an utr of 'some kind. Except the fruit, which is not much esteemed, no other part of the tree is used. Use. Its difference from oil of mawa. This tree is supposed to bear a strong affinity to the mawa, (madhuca, or bassia latifolia;) but the oil or fat, extracted from the seeds, differs very materially. The oil from the mawa is of a greenish yellow colour, and seldom congeals. That from the phulwah congeals immediately after expression, is perfectly colourless; and, in the hottest weather, if melted by art, will, on being left to cool, resume its former consistency. The oil from the seed of the mawa, if rubbed on woollen cloth, leaves as strong a stain as other oils or animal fat. The fatty substance from the phulwah, if pure, being rubbed on woollen cloth, will leave no trace behind. The The oil of mawa is expressed in considerable, quantities about Cawnpoor, and Furruckabad, and being mixed with, is sold as ghee. This fatty substance very rarely comes pure from the hills, and receives more and more adulteration, (by adding the purest ghee,) as it passes down to the lower provinces: age gives it the firmness of pure tallow. Additional Remarks by the same, in consequence of a few marks on it. It is supposed there might be annually procured from Farther retwenty to thirty maunds, at the price of fourteen or fifteen rupees the maund. 1st. It is never taken inwardly as a medicine, nor is it used in diet; further than that the dregs, after the purer fatty substance is expressed, are eaten, as a substitute for ghee, by the peasants, or labourers, who extract the fat. 2d. I have some pure, which has been by me ten months, and it has neither acquired colour, nor bad smell. 3d. After it is imported into Rohilkhund, it is scented with utr, (an essential oil,) and a little of the flour of Indian corn (zea mays) is added, to increase its consistency. N. B. This flour is added on account of its peculiar whiteness. 4th. If it is clean, and free from dirt, it never undergoes any purification; if the contrary, it is heated, and filtered through a coarse cloth. 5th. The flowers are never used. The pulp of the fruit is eaten by some; it is of a sweet, and flat taste. The timber is white, soft, and porous; and is never Wood. made any use of by the natives. It is nearly as light as the semul, or cotton tree (bombax heptaphyllum). XI. Observations XI. Observations on Werner's Silex Schistosus Politorius, Where found. THIS substance, called polishing slate, is found about three Described. Stratum described. miles south of Billin, in Bohemia, immediately under the vegetable mould, and less than a yard deep. It is of a yellowish colour, and slaty texture; has an earthy appearance; and leaves a coloured mark on cloth. Between the fingers it is easily reduced to a powder, which is a little rough to the feel; it adheres strongly to the tongue; it is infufible. Its specific gravity according to Mr. Haberle is 0.6; and if left twelve hours in water 100 parts absorb 117. In Saxony it is known in the shops by the name of silver tripoli. In the place where I observed it, near the top of a pretty high hill, it forms the superior part of a stratum, which increases in density as you penetrate into it; and in some places at the depth of two yards it is compact, with a yellowish and somewhat shining aspect, like that of certain semiopals: but it is not so hard, or so heavy. From every thing I observed on the spot, the polishing slate is nothing more than a portion of this stratum, the texture of which is loosened and altered by decomposition. Accord ing to Mr. Reuss, who lives at Billin, the stratum includes remains of vegetables, and impressions of fish. Every thing besides indicates, that it is a recent alluvial production. Mr. Bucholz has analysed both the polishing slate and the adhesive slate, klebschiefer, that accompanies the menilite of Menil-Montant, which had been considered as a va、 riety of it and as Mr. Klaproth has made a more full and complete analysis of the Klebschiefer than that he first gave the public, we shall here present the three analyses in a comparative view. |