15A is treated : (Di)Gest.
29A is also treated : anagram Sikh's and E to give KESH and IS (last word of clue).
30D : American version of a word for respect.
Super tough for me too. Nearly there though. I can't find a word that fits 36. Is am?i?r correct. Also can't see where I can fit the vessel but maybe I have an error
Cheers. I found a home for my vessel too but disappointed like others to not see a good depiction. The tz just touch at BN and don't make an obvious shape at the foot of the cb? Seems odd.
Thanks Mersault. Now finished. It was made much harder by me having the last 2 letters of 4d reversed. It sort of works if you consider a Southern States staple food.
I have found this very hard. With help from you all I have completed most of the grid but have some missing answers in the bottom left. Please can anyone give me a steer on 29d (S***T) 24d (*EE***), 36A (*N*I*R) and 38a (*O*E*I*)?
Also any hints on the end game would be appreciated. Are the geographical names linked at all to the poem?
24d begins with r- scots for to become rancid
36a begins with a- it's a tree with poisonous latex
38a is thematic- it was ephors- but becomes a fruit if a flower
29d is a synonym for fire as in a gun at beginning of a race