Jenks's Portland Gazette

VEGETABLE BUTTER TREE.

Our readers are all, doubtless, acquainted with the existence of that valuable vegetable the bread fruit tree; but it is not generally known that there exists a tree in Africa from which butter, and of most excellent kind, is obtained with as much ease as bread in the former instance. Of such a tree, however, Mr. Park gives a curious and interesting account, in his travels to the interior of this continent. It is called the Shea Tree, and is found near Kabba, on the banks of the Niger. It is thus he describes it:

"These trees (says Mr. Park) grow in 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, being first dried in the sun, the butter is prepared by boiling the kernel in water, has somewhat the appearance of a Spanish olive. The kernel is enveloped in a sweeter 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 from cow's milk. The growth and preparation of this commodity seem to be among the first objects of African industry in this and the neighbouring States, and it constitutes a main article of their inland commerce."