2-982-621 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches from Madagascar - Bread-fruit - the Artocarpus integrifolia, or Jack-tree, 1858. 'This magnificent tree, whose fruit forms the chief support of the inhabitants of some of the South Sea Islands, has been recently introduced to Mauritius, where its fruit is eaten by the creoles. We copy one of the Illustrations in Mr. Ellis's book ["Three Visits to Madagascar during the Years 1853, 1851, 1856. Including a Journey to the Capital. With Notices of the Natural History of the Country, and of the Present Civilisation of the People." By the Rev. William Ellis], engraved from a photograph, showing the manner in which this gigantic-looking fruit grows on short stalks from the trunk or thick branches of the tree. In taking this picture, when he had fixed his camera, he asked one of the coolies to stand near the tree, so as to exhibit the size of the fruit as compared with that of the Indian's head. The fruit of this species is more than double the size of any other kind of bread-fruit, and...has, when fully ripe, a strong flavour somewhat resembling turpentine. In this state it is sometimes eaten uncooked...the smaller kinds of bread-fruit are always either baked or roasted, and are, when sufficiently ripe, palatable and exceedingly nutritious'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.