LEGCVLXOS^E. 537 



to be scon in p;r(';it perfection, and wliero indeed it might peilmps be wild. I was 

 well rewarded, for a prettier little spot I never visited. Tlie Amberstias, growing in 

 a well-shaded place and watered by a perennial stream, which tumbles down a steep 

 granite hill, and is ingeniously directed hither and thither, in large bamboo troughs, 

 ■were indeed to be seen in tlic wildest lu.\urianee of growth. But Kothanaiong is a 

 sacred spot. Here are Pagodas, I'ongyeo-houses, Zaj-ats all around. A flight of steps 

 leads from the bottom to the top of tlie overhanging hill, which is about 600 feet higli, 

 and on which are more sacred buildings. The Aralicrstias, seen only round the 

 principal Pagoda, were undoubtedly jilanted, although they are now left to take care 

 of themselves and have a wild appearance. - Evidently, this is not a native habitat of 

 the tree." 



Dropping down the Yunzalcen, however, by boat from Pahpoon, on the second 

 day, Mr. Parish found a tine Ainherstia in full flower, which he regarded without 

 hesitation as a wild tree. Mr. Parish cogently remarks: " !Xow my reasons for 

 Baying that this was a bond fide wild tree are these : in all this district, the Valley 

 of the Yunzaleen, there arc no Pagodas or Pongyee-houses, or spots sacred to tlie 

 Burmese, where they have erected buildings. The inhabitants of this district, in 

 fact, are Karens, and not Burmese, and these Karens are exceedingly few and 

 scattered. After leaving Pahpoon, we did not see a single village on the banks 

 all the way until we came to the junction of the Yunzaleen with the Salween. 

 There are indeed, no doubt, a few villages a little way from the bank, here and 

 there hidden among the trees ; but these generally consist of but two or three 

 houses ; neither are they settled villages, for the custom of the Karens is to change 

 the site of their houses continually. Besides, the regular Karens, not being 

 Buddhists, do not build Pagodas, nor do they ever trouble themselves to plant orna- 

 mental trees, as the Burmese always do, in their sacred places. Again, the spot 

 where this Araherstia was seen was not at all a likely spot for an Amherstia to have 

 been planted by any one ; but one of the wildest places imaginable. Had it been 

 on a rising ground, or on a high bank alone, or on any prominent point on the river, 

 I should have suspected that a hand had placed it, but it was on a low and sloping 

 part of the bank, struggling for life with Cdlamux, Bnuhinea, and tall grasses and 

 such other tangled stuft' as forms the common vegetation of our river banks in the 

 wildest places, and behind again was dense jungle of the tallest trees. However, 

 notwithstanding all this, had it been seen in a fairly peopled district, I should have 

 doubted, but in such a wild uninhabited country as the Yunzaleen is, I see no reason 

 for suspecting that it was not a genuine native. Had Wallich's first tree been here, 

 I am satisfied tliat the idea of its not being wild would never for a moment have 

 occurred to liim. I am perfect!)- satisfied that the tree seen by me was a wild one. 

 That the Amherstia in a wild state may be very scarce is not improbable ; but that 

 it should not exist any longer in that state, though possible, is to say the least, very 

 unlikely." 



-\ — |- Petah none. 



Saeaca, Linnaus. 



Sepals 4. Stamens 3-9. Pods coriaceous, 2-valved. Trees. 



*S. Indica, L. E.T. Wild in the tropical forests of Arakan (Boronga Island, 

 Jonesia Ahsoca, \iti\\). at 1000 feet elevation); also Tenasscrim ; much 

 J. Zollhujcriana, Jliij. planted around monasteries all over the country. 



A-thor-ka-bo. 



One of the loveliest trees when in full blossom that the East produces. Wlien 

 they first open, the blossoms are a fine orange colour, which gradually changes to 

 red, and at night they exhale a delicious perfume. It is a pity it is not more 

 extensively cultivated in the gardens of Europeans. 



Sub-tribe EUC.ESALPIXIE.E. 

 Leaves wmalh/ ahruptli/ hipinnate. Sepals free to the disk, ralvate or inthricate. 

 Ovary or ovary-stalk free. 



