LON GAN . (NepheUurrv lo tigarv)
J>. 220.
Gardens abound in the neighbourhood, and fruit trees
are plentiful: it is the home of the
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)—(Plate XXI.):
without exception the most delicious fruit I
ever tasted; its rind, when ripe, is of a reddish
brown, similar to a small pomegranate,
and itsflesh underneath a dark crimson pulp,
but the edible portion, in the shape of a
peeled Mandarine orange, resembles more
a compact mass of snow than anything else;
with soft kernels of an elongated shape,
others without. The flavour of this fruit is
not easily described: it is something of the
pine-apple, orange, and vanilla, exceedingly
delicate and very juicy, but it must be
eaten as soon as it is ripe. The rambutan,
already mentioned in Ceylon, has a somewhat
similar flavour.
The Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica).
The Guava (Psidium pynferum).
The Pomegranate (Punica granatum).
The Fig (Ficus cavicd).
The Breadfruit (Artocarpus incisa).
The Custard apple (Anona squamosa): filled with
a delicious cream-coloured vanilla pulp.
The Pine-apple (Bromelia ananas).