BREADFRUIT

From Agepedia

BREADFRUIT. The breadfruit is a large, globular berry, of a palegreen color, about the size of a child's head, marked on the surface with irregular sixsided depressions, and containing a white and somewhat fibrous pulp, which, when ripe, becomes juicy and yellow. The tree that produces it (artocarpus incisa) grows wild in Otaheite and other islands of the South seas, is about 40 feet high, with large and spreading branches, and has large, brightgreen leaves, deeply divided into 7 or 9 spearshaped lobes.We are informed, in captain Cook's first voyage round the world, that the eatable part of this fruit lies between the skin and the core ; and that it is as wiiite as snow, and somewhat of the consistence of new bread. When gathered, it is generally used immediately : if it be kept more than 24 hours, it becomes hard and choky. The inhabitants of the South sea islands prepare it as food by dividing the fruit into three or four parts, and roasting it in hot embers. Its taste is insipid, with a slight tartness, somewhat resembling that of the crumb of wheaten bread mixed with Jerusalem artichoke. Of this fruit, the Otaheitans make various messes by mixing it with water or the milk of the cocoanut, then beating it to a paste with a stone pestle, and afterwards mingling with it ripe plantains, bananas, or a sour paste made from the breadfruit itself, called maliie. It continues in season eight months, and so great is its utility in the island of Otaheite, " that," observes captain Cook, " if, in those parts where it is not spontaneously produced, a man plant but 10 trees in his whole lifetime, he will as completely fulfil his duty to his own and to future generations, as the native of our less temperate climate can do by ploughing in the cold of winter, and reaping in the summer's heat, as often as these seasons return ; even if, after he has procured bread for his present household, he should convert the surplus into money, and lay it up for his children." Not only does this tree supply food, but clothing, and numerous other conveniences of life. The inner bark, which is white, and composed of a netlike series of fibres, is formed into a kind of cloth. The wood is soft, smooth, and of a yellowish color, and is used for the building of boats and houses. In whatever part the tree is wounded, a glutinous, milky juice issues, which, when boiled with cocoanut oil, is employed for making birdlime, and as a cement for filling up cracks in such vessels as are intended for holding water. Some parts of the flowers serve as tinder, and the leaves are used for wrapping up food, and other purposes.As the climate of the South sea islands is considered not very different from that of the West Indies, it was, about 42 years ago, thought desirable, that some of the trees should be transferred, in a growing state, to the English islands there. His majesty's ship the Bounty sailed, in 1787, for this purpose, to the South seas, under the command of lieutenant, afterwards admiral, Bligh. But a fatal mutiny of the crew at that time prevented the accomplishment of this benevolent design. The commander of the vessel, however, returned in safety to his country, and a second expedition, under the same person, and for the same purpose, was fitted out in the year 1791. He arrived in safety at Otaheite, and, after an absence from England of about 18 months, landed in Jamaica, with 352 breadfruittrees, in a living state, having left many others at different places in his passage thither. From Jamaica, these trees were transferred to other islands; but, the Negroes naving a general and longestablished predilection for the plaintain, the breadfruit is not much ^relished by them. Where, however, it has not been generally introduced as an article of food, it is used as a delicacy; and, whether employed as bread, or in the form of pudding, it is considered highly palatable by the European inhabitants.