TAA i.3.9.4

(not Tut’s). The hard (inner) shell of this was intact

when I received it & on breaking it open the

kernel was as you <will> see. This is one of the sources

of vegetable ivory (see your book p 10) – the

tree is Hyphaene thebaica. It is difficult for me

to imagine [a] micro-organism penetrating the shell

& if not then the blackening & degradation caused/<ld> {could?}

hardly have been initiated in that way. Does

the matter interest you? Would you care to

have a whole nut?

With all kindest regards

                                    Yours very sincerely

                                                      A Lucas