On the Varnish and Varnish Trees of India. 99 



which oozes from them. The incision is only through the 

 bark. The choonghas are allowed to remain two days. One 

 tree affords about a gallon. The varnish is extracted annually 

 from each tree at the commencement of the rains. No after 

 preparation is required to render it fit for use. The tree is at 

 present (Jan. 17th, 18^-7) in blossom. The bark is nearly the 

 same as the bark of the Saul, but somewhat lighter in colour. 

 The leaf resembles that of the horse-chesnut more than any 

 other I can recollect."" 



The varnish tree of Martaban, which we presume must be 

 the same as the Kheeoo, has been particularly examined by 

 an eminent botanist, Avho gives the following account of it : 

 " The varnish tree is found in great plenty and perfection at 

 Martaban. The tree is very distinct not only in species, but 

 genus, from the varnish tree of Sylhet, and that of the Malay 

 Archipelago, China, and Japan. It has been named Melan- 

 orhea usitatissima, and a very fine object it is, especially 

 when in fruit, the latter being supported by five or six spread- 

 ing red and very large wings. The varnish, when good and 

 fresh, is of a rather pale rust colour, which by exposure to the 

 air becomes jet black." 



Before concluding this notice, we shall give an account of 

 some observations which we made upon the constitution of the 

 Sylhet and Rangoon varnishes, in order to determine the 

 change which takes place in them when the colour passes 

 from a whitish brown to a deep black. A small quantity 

 being put between two plates of glass, the plates were pres- 

 sed together till the thin film of varnish which they enclosed 

 was translucent. Upon examining this film with a power- 

 ful microscope, it was obvious that the fluid was not a ho- 

 mogeneous one, but was organized, and consisted of an im- 

 mense congeries of small parts, which exhibited the finest ex- 

 ample of mottled or striated colours. These particles dis- 

 persed the sun's rays in all directions like a thin film of un- 

 melted tallow, or like organized fluids, such as the blood and 

 milk. 



After standing two days exposed to the action of the air, I 

 found that the portions which the air did not reach, viz. that 

 between the glass plates, exhibited the same constitution as 



