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The Taban-tree. By Berthold Skemann, Esq.* 



The Taban {Isouandra Gitt/a, Hook.), which was foimeily so plen- 

 tiful in the island of Singapore, has long since been extinct. A few 

 isolated trees may here and there occur, but they are very scarce, and 

 1 have not been able to obtain even the sight of one. Several of the 

 white residents keep in their gardens, as a curiosity, a plant or two, but 

 they grow very sowly. It must ever be a subject of regret, that on the 

 first introduction of the Taban gum its proper name was not promul- 

 gated. Now everybody in Europe and America speaks of Gutta Percha, 

 when, in fact, all the time they mean the Gutta Taban. The substance 

 termed by the Malays " Gutta Percha" is not the produce of the Iso- 

 nandra Gutta, Hook., but that of a botanically unknown tree, a species 

 of Ficus, I am told. The confusion of these two names has become a 

 popular error — an error which science will have to rectify. 



The exportation of the indigenous Gutta Taban from Singapore 

 commenced in 1844, but as early as the end of 1847 all, or at least 

 most, of the trees had been exterminated. That at present shipped 

 from the place is brought in coasting vessels from the different ports 

 of Borneo, Sumatra, the Malayan peninsula, and Jahore Archipelago. f 

 The difference existing in its appearance and properties is owing to the 

 intermixture of Gutta Percha, Jelotong, Gegrek, Litchu, and other 

 inferior Guttas, made by the natives in order to increase the weight. 

 Though far from being extinct in the Indian Archipelago, Gutta Ta- 

 ban will every year be more difficult to obtain, as the coast region is 

 said to be pretty well cleared, and a long transport from the interior 

 must, by augmenting the labour, increase the value of the article. 



A few months after the publication of your first account of the plant, 

 in January, 1847, an article on the same subject appeared in the 

 ' Journal of the Indian Archipelago,' by one of its most able contribu- 

 tors. Dr. T. Oxley. As that article contains many statements not 

 contained in yours, and as it may possibly have escaped your notice, 

 I shall make a few extracts from it. 



* From Hooker's ' Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany.' 

 f " The total export of Gutta Taban from Singapore has been : — 



In 1844 1 picul. 



In 1845 169 „ 



In 1846 5,364 „ 



In 1847 9,296 „ 



In 1848 to the 1st of July 6,768 „ 



Total . . . . . . 21,598 piouls." 



VOL. IV. 4 H 



