1817.) On the Poison Tree of Java. 209 
entirely without them: they are about an inch long, slender, com~ 
pressed, and spirally turned back (recurvati): at the end near their 
base a small stipula is found. 
The tshettik grows only in close, shady, almost inaccessible 
forests, in a deep, black, fertile, vegetable: mould. It is very 
rarely met with, even in the wildernesses of Blambangan. 
1. Preparation of the Antshar.—This process was performed for 
me by an old Javanese, who was celebrated for his superior skill in 
preparing the poison. About eight ounces of the juice of the 
antshar, which had been collected the preceding evening in the 
usual manner, and preserved in the joint of a bamboo, was care- 
fully strained intoa bowl. ‘The sap of the following substances; 
which had been finely grated and bruised, was carefully expressed 
and poured into it: viz. arum, mampoo (Javanese), kaemferia 
galanga, kontshur, amomum Lengley, (a variety of zerumbed) com- 
mon onion and garlic, of each about half a dram; the same quan-~ 
tity of finely powdered black pepper was then added, and the 
mixture stirred. 
The preparer now took an entire fruit of the capsicum fruticosum 
or Guinea pepper, and having opened it, he carefully separated a 
single seed, and placed it on the fluid in the middle of the bowl. 
The seed immediately began to reel round rapidly, now forming 
a regular circle, then darting towards the margin of the cup, with 
a perceptible commotion on the surface of the liquor, which con- 
tinued about one minute. Being completely at rest, the same 
quantity of pepper was again added, and another seed of the cap- 
sicum laid on as before: a similar commotion took place in the 
fluid, but in a less degree, and the seed was carried round with 
diminished rapidity. The addition of the same quantity of 
pper was repeated a third time, when a seed of the capsicum 
Cr. carefully placed in the centre of the fluid, remained quiet, 
forming a regular circle about itself in the fluid, resembling the 
halo of the moon. ‘This is considered as a sign that the preparation 
of the poison is complete. 
The dried milk of the antshar having been preserved close a 
considerable time, can still be prepared and refdered active. A 
quantity which [ had collected about two months before, was 
treated in the following manner by the same person who prepared 
the fresh juice. Being infused in as much hot water as was barely 
sufficient well to dissolve it, it was carefully stirred till all the par- 
ticles soluble in water were taken up; a coagulum of resin re- 
mained undissolved, this was taken up and thrown away. The 
liquor was now treated with the spices above-mentioned, the 
pepper and the seed of the capsicum, in the same manner as the 
fresh juice. The same whirling motion occurred as above described 
on the seed being placed in the centre. Its activity will appear 
from one of the experiments to be related. 
2. Of the Tshettik.—The bark of the root is carefully separated, 
and cleared of all the adherent earth ; a proportjonate quantity of 
Vor, IX, N° IL, Q 
