316 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Polygonee. 
tially a part, participating in the same great physical features, climate, and vege- | 
tation ; already possessing one, if not two species of Rhubarb, and having the best 
growing in its immediate vicinity. There can therefore be no rational doubt about the 
successful cultivation of the true Rhubarb in territories within the British influence, as 
in Kunawur, or the Bhoteah pergunnahs of Kemaon, and that with little more labour 
than placing the roots or seeds in favourable situations, and this in a country where 
little else can be produced fit for export. The only difficulty will be to obtain specimens 
or seeds of the true Rhubarb. But it must be considered, that even the eastern boun- 
daries of the country producing the best Rhubarb, and which, to make their purchases, 
the Chinese reach, after a journey of twenty days, is only one half the distance from 
the British territories in Upper Assam, that it is from the Russian town of Kiakhta. 
Also, that there is reason for supposing Rhubarb may be found much further to the 
: westward, and consequently still nearer to the Himalayas. It would not therefore be 
difficult from Kunawur, or Upper Assam, or for such active and intelligent officers as 
Messrs.Traill and Hodgson, in Kemaon and Nepal, to obtain some of the seed or roots. 
They might at the same time succeed in establishing a trade in Rhubarb with Tibet, or 
Western Mongolia, by means of the Tatars who resort to the Hill Fairs. This trade 
might easily be encouraged by the government purchasing all the Rhubarb it requires, 
which might thus be employed for hospital use after crossing the frontiers, instead of 
as now, after making a journey of 20,000 miles, or nearly the circuit of the globe. 
Even this would not probably be so difficult as at first sight appears, for the whole 
of the Tatarian Rhubarb trade is not engrossed by the Russians, as much of it takes 
a western direction, and has always formed one of the imports from China into Bokhara, 
whence passing to Smyrna, it is known in Europe as Turkey Rhubarb. Chardin, 
treating of that known in Persia, states—“ La meilleure vient du pais des Tartares 
Orientaux qui sont entre la Mer Caspienne et la Chine.” (Voyages, ii. p. 12.) Rhubarb, 
also of the best quality, and closely resembling the Russian, is to be purchased in the 
bazars of N. India, under the*name rewund-khatai, from the old name Cathay, of 
Northern China. This is sold for ten times the price of the Himalayan Rhubarb, which 
makes its way into the plains of India through Khalsee, Almora, and Butan, and is 
probably from its usual dark colour and spongy texture, the produce of either or both 
R. Emodi and Webbianum,* The roots of R. spiciforme and Moorcroftianum are lighter- 
coloured 
- * That the Rhubarb of this species is not without some valuable properties, we may learn from Dr. Twining’s 
report on experiments made on forty-three cases in the general hospital of Calcutta, of which the following 
are extracts :—Dr. T. states, that it has “ less aroma and more astringency to the taste than the best Turkey 
Rhubarb ; in doses of 2 or 3 drs. it has a good purgative effect, operating three or four times, nearly as freely 
as the best Turkey Rhubarb. The effects of small doses of the remedy, as a tonic and astringent, are highly 
satisfactory, as far as four or five cases can be relied on. In this respect its efficacy appears to be superior to 
corresponding quantities of the best Rhubarb. On the whole, 
: it appears not an eligible remedy in obstinate 
costiveness, on account of its aroma and astringency; “ 
it is not apt to gripe,” “but it is very efficacious in 
moderate doses for such cases as Rhubarb is generally used to purge ; and its cultivation at the Mussooree 
Garden 
