~~ 
‘This was then held over a clear blazing fire (the ends of the bamboo - 
LETTERS FROM JAMES MOTLEY, ESQ. 4l 
or ambassador, whose first coming thither I cannot find the date of, 
was withdrawn from Brune upon some misunderstanding, and the 
Sultan was strong enough to beat off with great slaughter the Por- 
tuguese vessels of war; the then city of Brune was however burnt, 
and its site removed further inland. 
In order to account for my not having before thanked you for the 
papers, I must tell you that I have been for several weeks exploring 
for coal in the interior of Sumatra. As my time was not my own, I 
was unable to collect much, and could dry no specimens, except a few 
of the beautiful little Lichens and Hepatice growing parasitically on 
leaves. How many species I send you I do not know; they seem to 
me almost innumerable, and many may probably be new. I send you 
also a lot of seeds, among which are those of three Palms; as they 
appeared perfectly ripe, I hope they may grow. I scnd also the fruit 
of the Gum Benjamin tree, and one of the Shiklar trees, for this last 
article is found on several species. Among the seeds are two very 
handsome Cucurbitacee, with brilliant scarlet fruit, and a very orna- 
mental small-flowered yellow Zpozwea; possibly they may none of them 
be new, and perhaps even may be worthless, but it is better to send 
all than none, when I was making up a parcel; and I had one thing : 
to send which I really think is very curious, as an instance of the in- __ 
stinct which teaches man to seek certain stimulants, wherever he is, — 
independently of what is taught him by others. nu 
In going up the river Chenaku I saw everywhere coffee planted 
about the houses, and in every case the fruit dropping and decaying on- 
the ground; upon inquiring, I found these people drank an infusion of 
the leaves, and entirely neglected the berries. I was very anxious to 
taste this and see it prepared, and luckily had an opportunity of doing 
so. A number of young twigs of the plant were gathered, with their — 
leaves, and, after being cut to about a foot in length, were placed closely 
together between two strips of bamboo, tied at the ends so as to form - 
a dense disc of green leaves about eighteen or twenty inches in diameter. 
serving for a handle), until the leaves were of a rich brownish-green - 
colour, and perfectly crisp and brittle; the latter part of this process - 
requires some care, as when nearly dry the leaves are almost as in- - 
flammable as gunpowder, and if once they catch the flame, the whole is - 
consumed in a moment. When dry the leaves are pounded, by crush- - | 
VOL. VII. G rid 
