536 BVllMA. ITS rEOPLE AXD riiODUCTIOXS. 



*T. IxiiicA, L. E.T. Cultivated all over Burma. Nicobars. 



Maji. 



Kurz describes the lieartwood as "dark-coloured and resembling ebony, sometimes 

 lieautifully dai'k-i eddish veined." This is hardly correct, as the wood is not black, 

 but a reddisli-purplo "when fresh, seasoning to a brownish-]nirple. The fully-seasoned 

 heartwood weighs 86 lbs., and it is the heaviest, hardest and handsomest wood I 

 know. Its hardness is so great as to chip or spoil any but the most seasoned tools, 

 and it is a matchless wood for ornamental turnery. A very largo tree would, however, 

 only yield a plank a foot broad. Small logs of the lieartwood would be valued in 

 England fur turning (W.T.). 



AilEERSTIA, IVdllich. 



Petals 5, 3 of them nearly equally long, and like the lowermost one, very broad, 

 the 2 others minute or rudimentary. Stamens diadelphous (9 + 1). 



A. xoBiiis, "\^"all. Planted around kyoungs, chiefly in the southern parts of 



Thaw-kah Burma. Wild along streams in Martaban (Parish). 



Dr. !JIason was uncertain as to the precise locality of the wild tree, but Mr. 

 Parish, a most competent authority, declares it exists wild in Martaban. Dr. Mason 

 describes this rare tree as of " low stature, with slender pendulous branches clustered 

 under its tufted summit of lively green, and draperiod with large pea-blossom-shaped 

 flowers of brilliant red and yellow, which hang down from its graceful arches in 

 tassels, more than a yard long." Dr. Wallich also writes: "There can be no doubt 

 that this tree when in full foliage and blossom is the most strikingly superb object 

 which can possibly be imagined. It is unequalled in the flora of the East, and I 

 presume not surpassed in magnificence and elegance in any part of the world." The 

 following poetical picture is from the pen of Mrs. Ellen II. B. Mason, Ihe helpmato 

 and fellow-labourer for many years of my deceased friend. Trochla is a village on 

 the Salweeu, where Wallich discovered the tree. 



"Ho, Trochla! thy tide 



Hath a beautiful bride. 



The child of au iris-wreathed shower ; 



With veils flowing down 



From her emerald crown, 



Whose fringes unfold, 



In scarlet and gold, 



A glorious sight. 



Ever graceful and bright — 



The queen of proud Ava's wild bower. 



Tall sweet-blossomed trees 



Are wooing the breeze 



O'er highlaud, and dingle, and glade ; 



But, though they allure 



With their fragrance so pure. 



The Amhcrstia is fair-est, 



The noblest, the rarest ; 



Kor all the rich flowers 



Of Albion's bowers 



Can vie with its purpling shade." 



Mr. Parish's remarks on this tree, which completely establish its claim to be con- 

 sidered as indigenous to Burma, are contained in the Jounial of the Asiatic Society 

 of Bengal for 186.5, p. 135 and p. 14.5, and are worth reproducing here: — 



" AVhile at Beling on the way, I rode out in company with Col. Fytche and 

 Capt. Harrison to a place called Kuthanaiong , about 7 miles off, to see the Amherstia 

 trees there. This place had often been mentioned as one where the Amherstia was 



