262 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE AND PRODUCTIONS. 



consult the above work, and I allude to them mainly to suggest the inquiry, whether 

 or not in parts of the East where the oak flourishes, similar legends are associated 

 with it as in Europe. Such is not improbably the case, but I arj unable to quote 

 any — and, indeed, with the exception of any myths they may come across regarding 

 the Deluge, which may help to steady on its legs that somewhat, historically speak- 

 ing, discredited story, our missionaries, who should be best qualified to contribute 

 to our knowledge of the Folk-lore of the peoples among whom they labour, are 

 certainly not generally very keen in investigating in a scientific and philosophic spirit 

 the legends and tales which are all too probably fast -^-anishing from the memoiy 

 of man. 



Bunyan's immortal parable of the man raking for trash, has a wider application 

 than to the mere miser, or the spiritually indifferent, and should touch all who waste 

 the opportunities they enjoy of adtling something to the sum of human knowledge. 



URTICALES. 

 Flowers diclinous (in Ulmacea hennaphrodite). Perianth usually regtdar, rarely 

 none. Stamens opposite the perianth lobes or sepals. Omri/ superior, 1-celled (in 

 Ulmacece 2-celled). Stigmas 1 or 3. Oride solitary, the micropyle always superior. 

 Fruit an achene or samara. 



Order CAXNABINE^.' 



Floircrs diclinous. Perianth male, sepals 5, free, imbricate ; female various. 

 Stamens 4, opposite the sepals. Filaments short. Sfi/les 2. Onde pendulous, 

 campylotropous. Fmbri/o hooked or coiled. Albumen none. Leaves stipulate. 

 Herbs with watery juice. 



This small order embraces two genera only, Cannahis and JIumulus, both possessed 

 of narcotic properties. Tlie latter has been lately introduced into Kashmir for use iu 

 brewing, with good prospect of success, whilst the latter is in universal demand for 

 its fibre, which is the strongest of any in general use, though the native country of 

 the plant is not known. 



Caxxabis, LiuHccus. 



* C. S,iTIVA, L. 



- Ben (Mason). 

 This is a hardy plant growing in profusion over the whole of India and a large 

 portion of Europe, Asia and Afi-iea, and seeming to thrive best where the seasons are 

 extreme. Tlic plant yields various products, fibre, seed and charas. According to 

 experiments made by Dr. Eoyle, Cannahis fibre from Kangra was the strongest out 

 of seven Indian fibres, the Ehoca grass of Assam coming second and breaking with 

 from 320 to 340 pounds, whilst Cannabis fibre supported over 400 pouuds. How 

 much depends, however, on the quality as regards preparation and probable freshness, 

 may be judged from Petorsburgh Hemp {Cannabis) also breaking with only 160 

 pounds ; other Hemp from the Deyrah Dun stood fourth in strength and twelfth in 

 elasticity, and considering that this plant flourishes as an actual weed in Burma, it 

 seems likely some day to become of importance as a fibre producer, of no small value. 

 Next to the fibre the seeds are of value, as they are oily and albuminous and quite 

 devoid of narcotic properties, as is the case likewise with the Poppy, whose seeds 

 yield a bland oil fit for culinary purposes. In warm countries, as along the Xcpal 

 Hills, and no doubt Burma also, the Cannabis developes strong narcotic properties 

 and exudes from its leaves a viscid resin called charas (charrus), which is collected 

 hymen clad in leather breeches (or in Nipal without any breeches), brushing through 

 and against the standing plants, whereby the resin becomes transferred to their clothes 

 or skin and is thence scraped off with a knife, and this constitutes the charas or waxy 



1 The arrangement of the species of Urticalcs is that of Kurz, but the orders are those adopted by- 

 Sir J. Hooker, iu appeudis in Maout and Decaisne's work. 



