THE 



QUARTERLY JOURNAL- 



July, 1825. 



Art. I. — On a peculiar Vegetable product possessing the 

 principal properties of Tallow. By Benjamin Babington, 

 M. B. 



[Communicated by the Author in a letter to the Editor.] 

 Dear Sir, 



During a visit to the coast of Malabar, in the year 18l8, my 

 attention was attracted by the very durable natural varnish which 

 exudes from the Vateria Indica, a tree of common occurrence in 

 those parts. Both the resin and the tree which produces it, have 

 been noticed by the botanists of India *. 



Dr. Ainslie*s assertion, that this resin is soluble in oil of tur- 

 pentine, is not quite correct, its habitudes being nearly similar 

 to those of Copaul. It is not however to^ this material that I am 

 now deisirous of drawing your attention. 



On a subsequent occasion, when employed at Mangalore in the 

 province of Canara, I learned from a native of that town, that 

 the same tree furnishes another product, which has not been no- 

 ticed by any natural historian or Eiiropean resident in the country, 

 although its qualities are such, as may render it a valuable article 



* See Dr. Roxburgh, MS. in Sir Joseph Banks's library ; Ainslie's Mat. 

 Med. Hind., 8(c. 



Vol. XIX. N 



