The New Hampshire Gazette

Extract from Park's Travels.

'The king of Bambarra having heard, from the Moors of Sego, unfavorable reports of Mr. P. sent him a bag containing 5000 cowries,* and an order to quit Sego, in consequence of which, the traveller, proceeded eastward along the banks of the Niger. Near to a town called Kabba, he observed the people collecting the fruit of Shea trees, from which the vegetable butter is prepared.

'These trees (says Mr. Park) grow in great abundance all over this part of Bambarra. They are not planted naturally in the woods; and in clearing the land for cultivation, every tree is cut down but the Shea. The wood is not inferior to the American oak; and the fruit, from the tree itself very much resembles the African oak; 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 sweet 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 flavor 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 neighboring states; and it constitutes a main article of their inland commerce.'

*Kowries, or small shells, 250 of which are nearly equal in value to a shilling.