M. SEEMANN’S JOURNAL. | 89 
the tree practised by the Burmese in obtaining the caoutchouc, than to | 
continue the present process of extermination*.” 
A mercantile house in Singapore lately received from Manilla a 
gum which was supposed, by those who sent it, to be Gutta Taban, but 
proved a different substance. It was accompanied by specimens of the 
tree producing it, and a note stating that the gum abounded in the 
Philippine Islands. As it will probably make its appearance in England, 
and perhaps become of some importance, I may add that those speci- 
mens presented to me by the merchant belong to the genus Ficus; but | 
whether to a new or an already described species, want of books pre- 
vented me from determining. 
Our short stay did not enable me to become so intimate with the 
flora, as to attempt a generalization; I can only offer some isolated 
remarks, Rubus reflexus, Myrtus tomentosa, and Pandanus fotidus 
. are here as common as in the southern parts of China. Férns, Mela- 
stomaceæ, and Orchidee of course abound in so damp a locality. The 
genus Clerodendron is represented by several species, the most common 
of which is C. viscosum; another, which I collected on the slopes of a 
hill, has a purple calyx, a yellow corolla, and a black drupe, and is allied 
to, if not identical with, C. &evifolium, Blume. Cassia alata, Solanum ni- 
grum, Asclepias curassavica, and Curcas purgans are, as in most tropical 
countries, to be met with. Jasminum Lessertianum, Alph. DC., an in- 
habitant of the jungle, is an elegant shrub, bearing pure white, though 
inodorous flowers.  Dilivaria ilicifolia, with pale flesh-coloured co- 
rollas, grows in company with Acrostichum aureum in swamps and on 
the muddy bank of rivulets. The genera Vitex, Psychotria, Emilia, Mus- 
senda, Calamus, Morinda, Andropogon, Ficus, Croton, etc., have one or 
more representatives. The Pucuru (Casuarina equisetifolia, Linn.) isa — 
noble tree, resembling our Fir. It is cultivated in avenues and around — 
dwellings, where it displays its beauties to the greatest advantage; — 
combining the regular growth and pyramidical shape of Conifere, with 
an entire absence of the stiff and uncouth appearance for vonn 
of that tribe are noted. 35 
The Fauna of the island seems to be very varied. Of qipi; a 
deer, a tiger, and a pig (Sus babyrussa, Buff.), may be enumerated. The 
depredations of the tigers are so frequent, that hardly a week passes 
without two or three persons being carried off. The daring of these 
* T. Oxley, in the * Journal of the Indian Archipelago,” vol. i. p. 22-30. 
VOL. IV. | N 
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