Terebinthacea. } THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 179 
the Augia of Loureiro producing a varnish used in China and Siam; and also the 
Stagmaria verniciflua of the Malayan Islands, Arbor vernicis of Rumphius, according 
to whom, as Mr. Jack observes, it is the tree which yields the so much-celebrated Japan 
lacquer or varnish, as well as that of Siam and Tonquin, which becomes black and 
hard, and being acrid causes excoriations and blisters. Loureiro represents the varnish 
of the two last countries as being the produce of a different tree. The former has 
unaccountably been referred to Zerminalia by Lamarck, and called 7. verniv: its 
properties might thus be adduced as an exception in the family where it is placed, 
though strictly in accordance with those of the family to which it naturally belongs. 
The Swmachine@ exude resin; the bark, as well as the leaves and fruit of several 
species is astringent, on which account they are employed in the preparation of leather. 
The genus Rhus includes some true poisons, as R. venenata, perniciosa, radicans, and 
Toxicodendron; and though most are inodorous, others, as R. suaveolens and aromatica, 
exhale a pleasant odour; while some of the species have acid berries, as R. coriaria, 
Bucki-amela, and Schinus molle. Thus, Rhus Cotinus, or Red sumach, has wood, called 
young fustick, which is astringent, as well as the berries; and R. Coriaria, known in 
India by the same name as in Europe, is a powerful astringent, chiefly employed in 
tanning leather, but also in Indian medicine. The seed of R. parviflora, tuntereek, 
is frequently substituted in India for that of the sumach. R. glabra is considered a 
febrifuge. Rhus vernix, a Japanese tree, exudes a whitish resinous juice, which soon 
becomes black in the air. R. succedanea and vernicifera, both common to the 
Himalayas and Japan, are said in the latter to yield a similar product. Species of 
other genera, as of Schinus, contain a resinous matter. 
The Spondiacee contain but few plants, and these have sapid and eatable fruit, which, 
in the West-Indies, are called hog-plums ; so, in India, Spondias mangifera, called amra, 
produces a fruit, which is eaten when ripe, and pickled before ripening. The tree is 
said to exude a mild insipid gum. 3 
From the preceding observations, it is evident that the Terebinthacee are one of the 
most important families for the number and value of their products. India contains so 
many of them, that it is perhaps immaterial to acclimate those of other countries, 
though from the nature of the climates in which these chiefly grow, there is no doubt of 
the success which would attend the attempt. It is more important, perhaps, to diffuse 
those which already exist over as wide an extent as practicable; and ascertain the 
properties of others. The species of Rhus being alone found at any elevation, might no 
doubt be introduced into English shrubberies. The mangoe even, which, as is well 
known,- has been ripened by Lord Powis, might be more extensively cultivated than, 
from its usual arboreous nature, is supposed possible : for by grafting and transplanting, 
the ordinary growth is much impeded, and shrubs of less than four feet in height have 
borne in the Saharunpore Garden above a dozen mangoes. It would be necessary only 
to imitate the climate, by giving a green-house cold in winter ; rapidly raising the heat 
in February and March, *and continuing it till May or June, or about the time of the 
2a 2 accession 
