Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 2) (London, 1832)

202 GUAVERS, &o.

vermin. The leaves and tender twigs are con-
sidered detrimental to health, if not actually
poisonous to cattle.

The guaver, white and red, are produced in
the Upper Provinces; but the fruit is seldom
so fine as in the Bengal district. The strong
aromatic smell and flavour of this fruit is not
agreeable to all tastes ; in size and shape it
resembles the quince.

The Damascus fig ripens well, and the fruit
is superior to any I have met with in other
countries. The indigenous fig-tree of Hindoo-
staun is one of the objects of Hindoo venera-
tion. It has always been described to me by
those Natives, as the sacred burbut,—why ?
they could not explain. The fruit is very
inferior.

The peach is cultivated in many varieties,
and every new introduction repays the careful
gardener's skill by a rich and beautiful produce.
They have a flat peach, with a small round
kernel (a native of China), the flavour of which
is delicious, and the tree prolific.

I may here remark, that all those trees we