308 
p. 201), without it being possible to refer to Mr. Sim’s account, a 
copy of which, through the courtesy of the author and his publishers, 
was presented to the Library at Kew on 12th August, 1909. 
More recently we have been indebted to the courtesy of Mr. ‘J. 
Burtt Davy for the communication of specimens of the same species 
from the Lebombo Mountains, whence also came those dealt with 
by Mr. Sim. In describing and figuring the tree, which he was 
compelled to do without either flowers or fruits, Mr. Sim, depend- 
ing upon the character of the stipules, placed the species in the 
natural family Rhizophoreae, and referred it doubtfully to the genus 
Weihea as W.? subpeltata. By Mr. Burtt Davy it was in the field 
referred correctly to Androstachys Johnsonii, Prain. Mr. Sim had 
specimens sent from Mozambique in connection with an application 
by the Railway Department as to its utilisation for sleepers ; 
he collected it himself in dense pure thickets in kloofs on the 
Lebombo Mountains, where its timber is well known. Mr. Burtt 
Davy’s specimens are also from kloofs of the Eastern Lebombo 
Mountains, where “ the tree is gregarious, forming dense thickets.” 
Mr. Sim states that he was informed by English, Dutch, Kaffir and 
Swazi alike, “that bees nesting in this tree made poisonous honey.” 
He found the trees always with fine clean straight stems, but was 
informed that very large specimens are usually hollow. Mr. Burtt 
Davy speaks of the timber as apparently practically indestructible. 
The vernacular names given by Mr. Sim are :—(1) “ Umbitzan,” 
in the Tronga language spoken at and near Lourenco Marques ; of 
this name the word “ Zimbiti,” sent by Mr. W. H. Johnson from 
Beira, seems a variant. (2) “ Mocurusse,” in the Swahili language, 
the name originally communicated by Mr. Consul O’Neill from 
Mosembe as “ Makruss” in 1883; and (3) “ Bekungu,” in the 
Swazi language as used on the Lebombo Range. In a letter dated 
17th April, 1912, forwarding his Lebombo specimens, Mr. Burtt 
Davy uses the name “um Koobookooboo”; but in a subsequent 
letter dated 10th June, 1912, the same correspondent uses the 
modified form “ Ubu-Koonkoo,” which more clearly approaches the 
form from the same general locality employed by Mr. Sim. - 
Federated Malay States.—An interesting guide to the Federated 
Malay States, edited by Mr. C. W. Harrison, of the Malay Civil 
Service, has recently been published by the Malay States Informa- 
tion Agency. The book is well illustrated, both by colour repro- 
ductions and photographs, and contains an excellent map. 
mong other items the Malay Peninsula from north to south 
is described, especially in relation to the railway line from Penang 
to. Singapore. There are also useful notes for travellers, con- 
taining accounts of the various peoples of the peninsula and their 
habits, customs, etc., and much practical information on all subjects 
likely to be needed by the visitor. 
_ Big game shooting occupies another chapter, and there is a very 
interesting account of the museums at Taiping and Kuala Lumpur, 
i ich the collections are referred to in some detail. 
A list of Rest Houses, Tables of Distances, and other useful 
ae concludes the volume, which is supplied with a good 
index. 
