185 
Loureiro however (Fl. Cochin, i. (1790) p ls gives the 
ang of this tree as the woods af the Hifinck of Binh Klang 
e Lanessan* states that it is common in some parts of 
Cochin.China, adding that its vernacular name is ‘‘ Cay-cu-chi.’’ 
According to Garnier (Indo-Chine, ii. p. 429), Nuz-vomica is 
largely exported from Cambodia to China, and Niederlein, 
** Ressources végétales des Colonies Hfrartgaives” (1902, p. 56), 
also mentions that seeds of uz-vomica are represented from 
Cambodia and Cochin- China in the collection of the Minister of 
the Colonies in Paris. 
There can be no doubt therefore that S. Nuz-vomica grows in 
Cochin-China but whether it is really eyaree or the result 
of introduction is somewhat difficult to determ e. 
The wide gap in the distribution of the Bh ies does however 
suggest that the occurrence of the plant in French Indo-China 
may be due to some early introduction from Ceylon or India 
and the long-known medicinal properties of the seeds lends some 
further support to the view that it may have been introduced 
by early traders oe missionaries voyaging from Ceylon or 8. 
India to the Eas 
Mager (Atlas Colonial, 1885, p. 1), in his description of 
Cambodia refers to the ancient intercourse between Ceylon and 
Cambodia, the earliest record of which appears to be the intro- 
duction of Buddhism from Ceylon in the [Vth Century. It may 
be that about that time or on some later occasion Nua-vomica was 
brought from Ceylon and that its cultivation was taken up on 
the granitic hills of Scobie. China whence most of the specimens 
now recorded from the country have been derived. 
The drug has been known to the Chinese for a long time, and it 
is possible that Nux-vomica seeds may have reached China by 
another route, for F. P. Smith in his Contributions phic 
the ‘Materia Medica & Natural History of China,’ 1871, p. 156 
(which Bretschneider remarks is a mine of scientific atanan), 
states that Nuz-vomica ‘‘is brought from Sech’uen, but it 
originally came from some Mohammedan country in Central 
1836) Les Plantes utiles des Colonies Francais,” Flore Cochin. p. 776 (Paris, 
t+ The following letter from Prof. H. J pels Director, Colonial Museum, 
illes, is of interest in this connectio 
* Toutes les porissaans sur la hiess ou sur les produits de Cochinchine 
indiquent, en effet, le S. ug-vomica comme agen: mais j ignore s'il 
ya aig un cones ae sur 4 cet égard et s'il ne s'agit pas d'une erreur 
rép , 
“En tout cas, aucune statistique ee aussi bien indo-chinoise 
que ae ne mentionne une expo n des noix vomiques. Mais 
elles peuvent étre comprises sous la sohris générale: Espéces medicin- 
renier, ancien n directeur des services —— de Cochinchine et 
chef de la statistique que j'ai consulté 4 ce sujet, ne posséde aucune 
donnée sur ce commerce, et ¢ ‘est  eependant certainement la personne la 
plus documentée sur ces questio 
“Voila malheureusement tout ee sed je Ss vous dire ; il 8 agirait 
tout au ae d'un commerce 
E 
