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534 FOURTH BULLETIN OF [184C. 



to bfi visited, precludes the possibility of obtaining much information of the country 

 or its productions, especially when the language is not understood. 



In Borneo 1 could not remain three hours on shore, but as the Rajah of that 

 city had disposed of the exclusive right of obtaining coal to the English, it could 

 only have b ien of interest to science to have remained there longer. 



In China, the restrictive laws imposed upon foreigners prevented me from visiting 

 the country or even all parts of the city. I could therefore only employ a Chinese 

 to tro in the country and obtain such objecis as might be of interest. In this man- 

 ner"^ I obtained many seeds, which will be sent to many parts of the United States, 

 and I hope will be of advantage to ihc agi icullural interests of our country. Under 

 Kuch disadvantages to my vocation, I could only make inquiries into the manufac- 

 turi s, exports and imports, their prices, &c. 



Fioin the long indisposition with which I was afflicted from that scourge of the 

 east. (Asiatic dysentery,) many of the specimens I had collected were destroyed by 

 the mice and cockroaches, with which the vessel was much infested; and many 

 of the prepared plants were destroyed from mould, caused by the dampness of the 

 climate ; but these accidents are always met with on board vessels, where it is im- 

 possible to have the means of preservation that may bo resorted to on shore. 



J. C. REINHARDT, Naturalist. 

 To Captain John Percival, 



Cuminanding U. S. Frigate Constitution, 



Orlober, 1844. — The landscape in the vicinity of St. Augustin Bay, Mada- 

 gascar, has nothing in appearance tropical, but resembles more, at this season of 

 the year, the opening of spring in a temperate climate. This is caused by the long 

 drought which occurs in the dry season, when the trees and shrubs on the moun- 

 tains, where the soil is shallow, shed their leaves, while those which grow along 

 the river bottom remain verdant throughuil the year. The same cause for the 

 falling of leaves, I have observed in temperate climates, where there was but a 

 slio-ht soil on the mountains, when after a drought the leaves fall from the trees, 

 long before the frost nipped those that grew in a more favorable situation and 

 supplied with more moisture. 



There is an entire absence of palm-trees here, which gives llie peculiar tropical 

 character to a country, and renders it apparent. 



The most conspicuous :ree to the view here, growing along the river and low 

 grounds is the tamarind, whicli grows '■ ry abundantly on the western coast, hut 

 is said not to be found on tho eastern. It is, perh^pb, the most important of all 

 the trees found hero, to the inhabitants, as they incite a large use of the fruit as 

 food. It is possessed of important anti-scorbutic properties, allays thirst, is nutri- 

 tive, refrigerant, and in full doses laxative. It is well adapted for febrile and in- 

 flammatory cases in general. In the former it is often given with tho double pur- 

 pose of acting as a refrigerant and operuliug gently on the bowels. An infusion 

 of tamarinds forms a very cooling and pleasant drink, as does also tamarind 

 whey. 



The fruit has been analyzed by Vanquclin, and found to contain citric, tartaric, 

 and malic acids, with bitartrale of potash, sugar, gum, and vegetable jolly. 



There arc two varieties, which are considered by Roxburgh and Decandolloto be 

 distinct species. The only difference between them u in the pod. This is the 

 species called Taniarindus Indicus by DecandoUe, and has the legume elongated, 

 six or more times longer than broad, and six to twelve seeded, whilst the West 

 Indian variety has the legume abbreviated, scarcely three times longer than broad, 

 and one to four seeded. 



This tree is generally found along the banks of rivers or moist places, where 

 alone it naturally grows. While on the mountains at St. Augustin Bay I was 

 very much oppressed with thirst, when observing a tamarind tree growing in a 

 ravine, with a species of scirpiis, I took the hint that there might bo water near, or 

 these two members of the vegetable kingdom would not have been found there. 

 After a search under the dried leaves near tho base of the tree 1 found a small 

 quantity of water contained in a rock, and from appearance, indicated that there 



