604 POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. MeSUtt. 



green, to a deep amber colour, \\'\\\\ all the intermediate 

 shades. In some parts of India beads are made of such 

 pieces as most resemble amber beads, so much like that 

 substance is it, even to being electrical when excited 

 by rubbing. 



The resin or substance as it flows from the tree, appli- 

 ed while in its fluid state, makes a good varnish, called 

 Piny Varnish on the Malabar Coast, and there the tree 

 is commonly called the Piny Varnish tree, or Piny Ma- 

 rum. It is mentioned by Dr. Buchanan in his Jour- 

 ney through Mysore, Ciinara, and Malabar, vol. 2. p. 

 47G; but as that book may not be in the hands of every 

 one, I will transcribe what he says, viz. "Some men 

 of the Panchala tribe, which here is called Peninge- 

 lan, paint and varnish by the following process. They 

 take butter-milk and boil it with a small quantity of 

 quick lime, until strings form in the decoction, and sepa- 

 rate from the watery parts, which they decant. The 

 stringy matter is then mixed with the paint, which has 

 been well-po\^dered ; with these the wooden work is first 

 painted, it is then allowed to dry for one day, and after- 

 wards receives a coat of Punduni, which is the fresh 

 juice of a tree called Peini Marura. The Pundum must 

 be used \\liile it is fresh, and will not keep for more thaa 

 two or three days. After the first coat of Pundum has 

 dried, another coat of paint is given, and that is follow- 

 ed by another of varnish. In the same manner leather 

 may be painted and varnished. Tlie varnish elTectually 

 resists the action of water. All my attempts however 

 to find out the varnish tree were vain." 



MESUA. Schreh. gen. n. 1146. 



Gen. Char. Ca/y.v four-leaved. Corol five-petalled. 

 Germ superior, two-celled ; cells two seeded; attachment 



