On the Botany of India. 3G5 



fruits from thence, which differed in no respect from those I had seen at 

 Martaban. They vegetated speedily, and produced plants similar to those 

 \ve already possessed. Captain F. Grant, who has a military command 

 at Munipur, had the goodness to furnish the following particulars. The 

 tree grows in great abundance at Kubbu, an extensive valley in the above 

 mentioned principality, forming large forests in conjunction with the two 

 staple timber-trees of continental India, the saul and^teak (Shorea robusta 

 and Tectona grandis), especially the former. Numbers of the gigantic 

 woodoil-tree (Dipterpcarpus) are also found in company with if. The 

 size of it varies, but in general it attains very large dimensions. Captain 

 Grant speaks of trees having clear stems of forty-two feet to the first 

 branch, with a circumference near the ground of thirteen feet; and he 

 mentions that they are known to attain a much greater size. All the 

 individuals grow in the same manner, that is, they reach a great height 

 before throwing put any branches. Our tree belongs to the deciduous 

 class, shedding its leaves in November, and continuing naked until the 

 month of May ^during which period it produces its flowers and fruit. During 

 the rainy season, which lasts for five months, from the middle of May 

 until the end of October, it is in full foliage. Every part of it abounds in 

 a thick and viscid greyish-brown fluid, which turns black soon after coming 

 in contact with the external air. In the Edinburgh Journal of Science, 

 vol. viii., pp. 96 and 100, there are two interesting articles, containing 

 valuable information concerning the varnish produced by our tree, and 

 its deleterious effects on the human frame. It is a curious fact, that, to 

 my certain knowledge, the natives of the countries where the tree is indi- 

 genous never experience any injurious consequences from handling its 

 juices : it is strangers only that are sometimes affected by it, especially 

 Europeans. Both Mr. Swinton and myself have frequently exposed our 

 hands to it without any serious injury. I have even ventured to taste it, 

 both in its recent state and as it is exposed for sale at Rangoon, and have 

 never been affected by it. It possesses very little pungency, and is en- 

 tirely without smell. I know, however, of instances where it has produced 

 extensive erysipetalous swellings attended with pain and fever, but not of 

 long duration. Of this description was the effect it had on the late Mr. 

 Carey, a son of the Rev. Dr. W. Carey, who resided several years in the 

 Burman empire. Among the people who accompanied me to Ava, both 

 Hindoos and Mahomedans, no accident happened, although they fre- 

 quently touched the varnish, except in a slight degree to one of my assist- 

 ants, whose hand swelled and continued painful during two days. Dr. 

 Brewster informs me that, after resisting its effects for a long time, it at 

 length attacked him in the wrist with such violence that the pain was 

 almost intolerable. It was more acute than that of a severe [burn, and 

 the doctor was obliged to sleep several nights with his hand immersed in 

 the coldest water. He considers it a very dangerous drug to handle. 

 One of his servants was twice nearly killed by it.' 



Tab. 22 and 23 are Dillenia scabrella and ornata, two noble trees, 

 remarkable for the large rich golden yellow blossoms with which 

 they are covered. Under Aphanochilus flavus, tab. 34, is the com- 

 mencement of a scientific arrangement of Indian Labiatae, by Mr. 

 Bentham, a performance of great importance to science. Eria pani- 

 culata, tab. 36, Dendrobium formosum, tab. 39, and D. densiflorum, 

 tab. 40, are magnificent air-plants, growing in damp forests on the 

 lower mountains of India. Tab. 41, Aconitum ferox, is a frightful 



VOL, I. FEB, 1831. 2B 



