| abiba | ~ [Sakalava] A tree affording an edible fruit, which, however, if indulged in freely, the Sakalava say brings on an attack of malarial fever in those subject to it. The fruit is used by the Sakalava for tattooing. Probably the same as mabiba [Swa. bibo, plu. mabibo], the cashew apple. The cashew nut is called <1koroso#>. [Swa. korosho.] The juice of the apple is used in tattooing, but the fever-producing quality is not attributed to the cashew only. The same thing is said about all acid fruits. Medical science has established the correctness of the native observation. |
