Ve have here, you see, zee Lansat, Mangosteen, Rambutan, Jack, Jambon, Blimbing ant many ozers--but zee queen of fruits is zee Durian.

Have you tasted zee Durian ?" "No, not yet." "Ha! a new sensation is before you! Stay, you vill eat von by ant by.
Look, zat is a Durian tree before you." He pointed as he spoke to a large and lofty tree, which Mr.A.R.
Wallace, the celebrated naturalist and traveller, describes as resembling an elm in general character but with a more smooth and scaly bark.

The fruit is round, or slightly oval, about the size of a man's head, of a green colour, and covered all over with short spines which are very strong and so sharp that it is difficult to lift the fruit from the ground.

Only the experienced and expert can cut the tough outer rind.

There are five faint lines extending from the base to the apex of the fruit, through which it may be divided with a heavy knife and a strong hand, so as to get to the delicious creamy pulp inside.
There is something paradoxical in the descriptions of this fruit by various writers, but all agree that it is inexpressibly good! Says one--writing of the sixteenth century--"It is of such an excellent taste that it surpasses in flavour all the other fruits of the world." Another writes: "This fruit is of a hot and humid nature.