198 APPENDIX. 
had a most agreeable odour, resembling, but not identical with, Indian 
cassia, and the taste was decidedly sweet. It made a slimy mucilage 
when mixed with water and contained some tannic acid, but no 
alkaloid resembling laurotetanine could be separated from it, The 
bark is sold in the bazaars, and itis known as Mydalakady among - 
Muhammadans, It is used in medicine for its mucilaginous, 
demulcent, and refrigerant properties. By powdering the bark with 
some benzoin, mixing it into a paste witha little water, and smearing 
this on reeds, and drying them in the sun, flavouring sticks called 
Samboorany-vathe are made, and are burnt as an incense or perfume, 
I have not been able to obtain the botanical source of this particular 
variety of gum-bark, but I am inclined to believe from its odour that 
it is an arboreous cinnamon. 
From Travancore Ihave received on different occasions three 
specimens of gum-bark, all varying the one fromthe other. The 
first was a thick, red-coloured bark, a commercial article on the 
Western Coast, supplied to sugar refiners. The botanical origin could 
not be ascertained ; it differed in physical characters from the barks 
previously mentioned, and yielded an alkaloid having the reactions of 
laurotetanine. Probably it was a Litsea. The second description of 
gum-bark was that of Kydia calycina. The third specimen was sent by 
the Conservator of Forests for Travancore ; it was named in Malyalum 
Ava-tholi, and derived, it was supposed, from a species of Cordia, 
I have recently examined some samples of gum-barks from the 
Madura District of Southern India, and stated to be used by the hill 
villagers in increasing the alcoholic strength of sago toddy. The 
plants yielding these barks were up to this time only known by their 
vernacular names, but as leaves, flowers, and fruits were also sent, 
these enabled them to be identified. The request was also made that 
they should be analysed to ascertain the nature and effect of their 
use in native spirit manufacture. 
The seven specimens of bark were as follows :— 
1. Kadaly-marum* .., .. Olea glandulifera. 
2. Koppa-marum ... -» Litsea Zeylanica. 
3. Karukathan-gundu* ...  Hiptage Madablota. 
4, Mullu-gundu sis + Jasminum flexile. 
5. Pungala-marum ,,, ... Ligustrum Rozgburghii, 
6. Sudala-marum _,,. w- Litsea Wightiana, 
7. Kumala-marum ,,, --- Gmelina arborea. 
* Marum = tree, gundu = climber (Tamil). 
