2U BURMA, ITS PEOPLE ANT) PRODCCTIOXS. 



f Leare-'i peltate. 



M. AcmiNATA, Muell. Arg. S.E. Tree forests of the Andamans, Katchall 



and Great Nicobar. 

 Young parts and leaves beneath puberulous. 



f f Leaven not peltate. 



M. Helferi, Muell. Arg. E.T, Tree forests all over Burma, the Andamans, 



Trice and Track. 



Young parts and leaves beneath puberulous. Petioles long and slender. 



M. MUEiCATUs, Muell. Arg. U.S. Tree forests of the Andamans, Katchall 



and Kamorta. 

 All parts glabrous. Petioles proportionally short. 



EoTTLERA, Roxhurffh. 



{Mallotus in part.) 



R. TixcTOEiA, Roxb. All over Burma and the Andamans. 



MaUotus Philippineims, Muell. Arg. 



Tor-thi-bcn. 



Leaves beneath glaucescent and crimson-resinous. Capsules densely covered 

 with crimson resinous powder. 



The bark is used for tanning, the root as a red dye, and the powder on the 

 capsules as a scarlet dye for silk. 



The following remarks on this valuable dye are from a paper by Daniel Hanbury 

 in the Fhannaceutical .Journal for February, 18.58 : — "Its application as a remedial 

 agent having recently attracted attention in this country, in consequence of the 

 favourable reports made by several practitioners in India, who have found it 

 eminently successful in the treatment of tania, I think it may be not uninteresting 

 if I briefly recapitulate its history, and quote some of the statements that have 

 appeared regarding its medicinal properties and mode of administiation. 



" The genus Eotflera, so named in honour of the Eev. Dr. Eottler, an eminent 

 Danish missionary and naturalist, was, as at present restricted, founded by Roxburgh 

 in 1798. 



" Eottlcra tincturia, Rosb., is a tree of from 15 to 20 feet in height; it is 

 common in the hilly districts of India from Burma to the Punjab, and from Ceylon 

 to the hot valleys of the whole of the Himalaya, where it ascends to an elevation 

 of 5000 feet ; it is found in the Philippine Islands, in China, and in S orth-Eastem 

 Australia ; it appears also to occur in the South of Arabia and in the Somali coimtiy, 

 fi'om wliich regions the dye obtained from it is carried to Aden for sale. 



"The fruit of the tree is tricoccous and of the size of a pea, covered on the 

 outer surface with minute, sessile, roundish, semi-transparent glands of a briglit 

 red colour. According to Roxburgh the fruit ripens in Febiiiary and March, at 

 which period it is gathered, and the red, glandular powder is carefully brushed off 

 and preserved for use. 



" Before further describing this substance, I may properly advert to the names 

 liy which it and the tree affording it, are known to the natives of India ; for some 

 information on whicli part of the subject I am indebted to the kintlness of Professor 

 H. H. Wilson, of Oxford. 



" The Sanskrit name of Rottlera tinitoria is Punnaga. a word having several 

 synonyms, among which are Tunga and Kesoru ; — hence in Bengali we have Punni'ig, 

 Kesor and Tang, and in Hindustani Punndg. 



"The rod powder fi'om the capsules is called in Bengali Kiimala, abbreviated 

 to Kdmal. The Sanskrit word Kapila, signifying tawng or dusky red, would appear 

 to be also applied to it. In the Tamil language the substance in question is termed 

 Kapilapodi, a name compounded of the Sanskrit Kapila and the Tamil Podi, the 

 latter word meaning the/ioZ/cH of a Jlower, or dunt in general. 



