X O O -1 IE U T E N AN T C O O K ’ s V O Y A G E
1770. 23. Durion. A fruit, that in fhape refembles a fmall melon,
.December. . . . . . . •
v — ^ fbut- the fkin is covered with lharp conical fpines, whence
its name; for dure, in the Malay language, fignifies prickle.
When it is ripe, it divides longitudinally into feven or eight
•compartments, each of which contains fix or feven nuts, hot
quite fo large as chefnuts, which are covered with a fub-
ftance that in colour and confiftence very much refembles
thick cream: this is the part that is eaten, and the natives
are fond of it to excefs. To Europeans it is generally difa-
greeable at firft.; for in tafte, it fomewhat refembles a mixture
of cream, fugar, and onions; and in the fmell, the
onions predominate.
24. Nanca. This fruit, which in fome parts of India is called
Jack, has, like the Durion, a fmell very difagreeable to ftran-
gers, and fomewhat refembling that of mellow apples mixed
with garlic: the flavour is not more adapted to the general
tafte. In fome countries that are favourable to it, it is faid
to grow to an immenfe fize. Rumphius relates, that it is
fometimes fo large that a man cannot eafily lift i t ; and we
were told by a Malay, that at Madura it is fometimes fo
large as not to be carried hut by the united efforts of two
men. At Batavia, however, they never exceed the fize of a
large melon, which in fhape they very much refemble: they
are covered with angular prickles, like the fhootings of fome
chryftals, which however are not hard enough to wound
thofe who handle them.
25. Champada. This differs from the Nanca in little except
fize, it not being fo big.
26. Rambutan. This is a fruit little known to Europeans;
in appearance it very much refembles a chefnut with the
hufk on, and like that, is covered with fmall points, which
are foft and of a deep red colour: under this fkin is the
7 fruit,
fruit, .and. within the .fruit a ftone; the eatable part therefore
is fmall in quantity, but its acid is perhaps more agreeable
than any other in the whole vegetable kingdom.
27. Jambolan. This in fize and appearance is not unlike
adamafcene; but in tafte is ftill more aftringent,, and therefore
Iefs agreeable,
28. The Bóa Bidarra; or Rhamnus Jujuba of Linnaus. This
is a round yellow fruit, about the fize of a goofeberry; its-
flavour is-- like that of an apple,, but it has the aftringency of.
a crab.
sg. Nam nam. The Oynomctra Caulijlora oi I.innteus. This
fruit in fhape fomewhat refembles a kidney; it is about
three inches longhand the outfide-is very rough: it is fel—
dom eaten raw, but fried with batter it makes a good fritter.
30, 3r. The Catappa; or Terminalia Catappa; and the Canare,
the Canarium commune of Linnasus ; are both nuts, with kernels
fomewhat refembling an almond; but the difficulty of
breaking the ftie.11 is fo great, that they are no where publicly
fold. Thofe which we tailed were gathered for curio-
fity by Mr. Banks, from the tree upon which they grew.
32. The Madja; or l.imonia of I.innrrus ; contains, under a.
hard brittle fhell, a lightly acid pulp, which cannot be eaten,
without fugar ; and with it, is not generally thought plea-
fant.
33. Suntul. The Trkhilla of Linnaus. This is the word of
all the fruits that I fhall particularly mention: in fize and
fhape it refembles the Madja; and within a thick fkin contains
kernels like thofe of the Mangoftanj the tafte of which
-is both acid and aftringent, and fo difagreeable that we were-
furprifed to fee it expofed upon the fruit-ftalls.
335