The fruit grows on the boughs like apples; it is as big as a penny loaf when wheat is at five shillings the bushel.

The natives of this island (Suam) use it for bread.

They gather it when full-grown; then they bake it in an oven, which scorcheth the rind and makes it black; but they scrape off the outside black crust and there remains a tender thin crust and the inside is soft, tender and white, like the crumb of a penny loaf.

There is neither seed nor stone in the inside, but all is of a pure substance like bread; it must be eaten new, for if it is kept above twenty-four hours it becomes dry and eats harsh and chokey; but 'tis very pleasant before it is too stale." By Dampier, who in the course of his astonishing career had consumed many strange things--who found shark's flesh "good entertainment," and roast opossum "sweet wholesome meat"-- toleration in the matter of things edible was carried to the point of latitudinarianism.

We never find Dampier squeamish about anything which anybody else could eat with relish.