SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I927 95 



of economic trees are known, but there are doubtless many localized 

 types of great interest and value that are doomed to extinction. The 

 expression of such fears provokes laughter in Sumatra, where the 

 wonderful tropical forest now seems inexhaustible. However, it will 

 be only a few years before a patch of virgin forest will be a rarity in 

 the culture area. As for the flora, it is doubtful if half of it has been 

 recorded, or can be recorded on the basis of the collections that have 

 thus far been made. Furthermore, after potentially valuable or scien- 

 tifically interesting plants have been exterminated, it is small conso- 

 lation to know that a few fragments may be preserved in our 

 herbaria. Since leprosy has come under control through treatment 

 with chaulmoogra oil, what botanist would wish to see any one of 

 the allies of chaulmoogra exterminated with its properties still un- 

 known? The type locality of one of Mr. Yates' beautiful discoveries, 

 Hydnocarpus Yatesii Merrill, may be cleared any time. The known 

 range is not over ten miles across. It is a pity that botanical survey 

 work cannot be pushed more rapidly the world over. Fortunately, 

 two active botanists, Mr. J. A. Lorzing, in charge of the Sibolangit 

 Botanical Garden, and Mr. H. S. Yates, until recently botanist for 

 the U. S. Rubber Co., have been collecting in the East Coast region in 

 the intervals of their other occupations. The former has assembled a 

 valuable collection of living plants and has a book on the flora in 

 preparation. The latter's collections, in the hands of Dr. E. D. Mer- 

 rill for determination, will be reported upon by IMerrill and Yates. 



My own season of field-work extended from January to July, and 

 included four not entirely distinct types of work. 



I. Friendly contacts were made with the old native population at 

 Silo Maradja, at the edge of the U. S. Rubber Plantations. Ofl:' and 

 on throughout the season I stayed with these people and made col- 

 lecting trips with them daily, collecting all plants of economic inter- 

 est, as well as whatever else came to hand, and making notes on 

 ethnobotany. Since the jungle people and their ancient lore are dis- 

 appearing even faster than the jungle, this phase of my work was 

 important. I fitted it into my program throughout my stay, by taking 

 men from Silo Maradja with me to all the neighboring districts. 

 Inquiries made on the trail always reminded these men of interesting 

 things at home. An inseparable companion from Silo Maradja was 

 Datoe Boersok, a picturesque old pagan priest-doctor, sometimes 

 more picturesque than useful, whose fund of learning was always at 

 my disposal. Rahmat was a cheerful boy of inexhaustible industry, 

 who on one occasion felt so humiliated by his failure to climb a tree 



