or the Burmese Varnish-tree. 73 



liquid food is lacquered by means of it. At a village close to 

 Pagam on the Irawaddi, called Gnaunee, where this sort of 

 manufacture is carried on very extensively and to great per- 

 fection, I endeavoured to obtain some information relating to 

 the precise mode of lacquering; but I could learn nothing 

 further than this, — that the article to be varnished must first 

 be prepared with a coating of pounded calcined bones ; after 

 which the varnish is laid on thinly, cither in its pure state, or 

 variously coloured by means of red or other pigments. I was 

 told that the most essential, as well as difficult part of the ope- 

 ration consists in the process of drying, which must be effected 

 in a very slow and gradual manner ; for which purpose the 

 articles are placed in damp and cool subterraneous vaults, 

 where they are kept for several months until the varnish has 

 become perfectly dry. Another object for which the drug is 

 extensively employed, is as a size or glue in the process of 

 gilding ; nothing more being required than to besmear the 

 surface thinly with the varnish, and then immediately to ap- 

 ply the gold leaf. If it is considered how very extensively 

 that art is practised by the Burma nation, it being among 

 their most frequent acts of devotion and piety to contribute to 

 the gilding of their numerous religious edifices and idols, it 

 will be evident that a great quantity of the drug must be con- 

 sumed for that purpose alone. Finally, the beautiful Pali 

 writing of the religious order of the Burmas on ivory, palm- 

 leaves, or metal, is entirely done with this varnish, in its na- 

 tive and pure state. 



I was not so fortunate as to see the tree while in flower, or 

 to procure specimens of it in that state. But the examination 

 of its fruit and of some decayed old flowers, which I found 

 under the trees, has enabled me to establish it into a perfectly 

 distinct new genus. A few days before I left India I obtained 

 specimens in flower, but without any fruit, of a second species 

 from Tavoy, which have aided me in completing the generic 

 character. The genus is allied to most of those which form 

 the tribe of Anacardeoe ; but it differs from them all in having 

 a calyptriform, one-leaved, caducous calyx, a persistent corolla 

 'which enlarges into a spreading involucrum, indefinite stamens, 



