1>K. COLLINGAVOOD OK NUTMEG-CULTIVATION IK SIKGArOEE. 51 



in Singapore. The late Mr. d' Almeida, already referred to, intro- 

 duced some trees from Siani, but simply as a matter of curiosity, 

 and for experimental purposes. These trees have not been pro- 

 tected in any way, but nevertheless they thrive well ; and the soil 

 evidently is well suited to them. The plantation in which they 

 were placed has changed hands, and no care has been taken of 

 the trees ; but those I saw were green and flourishing, bearing 

 abundance of flower and fruit, and yielding, upon the slightest 

 incision, an abundance of yellow resinous juice. In their imme- 

 diate neighbourhood are numerous healthy seedlings springing 

 up uncared for; and I was assured that the seeds carried by 

 birds have been taken to spots at a distance from the trees 

 originally planted ; and one of the largest and healthiest trees 

 I saw was pointed out to me as one which had grown there 

 spontaneously, and probably owed its origin to this cause. I 

 have preserved a few specimens of this tree, and of the female 

 flowers in spirits, which I shall forward when I have an oppor- 

 tunity of doing so. But, although to all appearance it would 

 do well, the existing trees are quite neglected, no one having 

 taken up the matter of cultivating them. For this reason also I 

 was unable to procure any specimen of the Gamboge produced 

 by them, though I was informed, by the Chinese gardener who 

 showed me the trees, that incisions were made in this bark 

 and small bamboos were applied to the incised spot to receive * 

 the juice. Hence the Pipe-gamboge of commerce. I may add 

 that the soil on which this Gamboge appears to thrive so well 

 is a reddish sandy soil, containing a little clay, but a larger 

 proportion of sand. 



This brief account of the past cultivation of Singapore would' 

 not be complete without some mention of two plants which have 

 been largely ctdtivated by the natives, though the cultivation of 

 them is now on the decline. These are Gambier ( Uncaria 0am- 

 Ur) and Pepper. With regard to the first of these {Gambier)^ 

 the mode of its preparation demands a very considerable supply 

 of firewood ; and therefore it has always been planted in clearances 

 niade in the jungles of the interior of the island, and distant 

 from the town. Here the planters squatted, and have for a long 

 while successfully cultivated this favourite masticatory. The 

 Gambier plant is a creeping annual, and rises to the height of six 

 or seven feet. In eight months the young plants are fit to be 

 cut ; and the young leaves and shoots are cropped and boiled ; 

 the extract thus obtained is evaporated to a paste, dried, and cut 



T OTA V'^'' 



