Lastly, when softer than a pear,
it is a fruit eaten with milk or made into beignets. I have
described the plantain-cider in "Lake Regions of Central Africa"
(ii. 287). The fruit contains sugar, gum, and acids (malic and
gallic); the rind, which is easily detached when ripe, stains
cloth with ruddy grey rusty colour, by its tannin, gallic, and
acetic acids.
The Baraka Mission has had several out-stations. One was at a
ruined village of Fan, which we shall presently pass on the right
bank of the river. The second was at Ikoi, a hamlet distant about
fifteen (not twenty-five) miles, upon a creek of the same name,
which enters the Gaboon behind Point Ovindo, and almost opposite
Konig Island. A third is at Anenge-nenge, vulgo Inenge-nenge,--
"nenge" in Mpongwe, and anenge in Bakele, meaning island,--
situated forty (not 100) miles up the main stream; here a native
teacher still resides. The Baraka school now (1862) numbers
thirty scholars, and there are twelve to fifteen communicants.
The missionaries are our white "labourers;" but two of them, the
Revs. Jacob Best and A. Bushnell, are absent in the United States
for the benefit of their health.
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