602 • 



" The Gutta Tabati tree belongs to the Natural Order Sapotaceee, 

 but differs so much from all described genera that I am inclined to 

 consider it a new one. I shall, therefore, endeavour to give its gene- 

 ral character, leaving the honour of naming it to a more competent 

 botanist, especially as, from want of complete specimens, I have not 

 quite satisfied myself regarding the stamens and fruit. 



" The tree is from sixty to seventy feet high, from two to three feet 

 in diameter. In its general aspect it resembles the Durian (Durio Zi- 

 hethinus, Linn.), so much so as to strike the most superficial observer. 

 The leaves are alternate, obovate-lanceolate, entire, coriaceous, their 

 npper surface is of a pale green, and their under surface covered with 

 a close, short, reddish-brown hair. The flowers are axillary, from one 

 to three in the axils, supported on short curved pedicels, and nume- 

 rous along the extremities of the branches. The calyx is inferior, 

 persistent, coriaceous, divided into six sepals, which are arranged in 

 double series. The corolla is monopetalous, hypogynous, and divided, 

 like the calyx, into six acuminate segments. The stamens, inserted 

 into the throat of the corolla, are in a single series, and variable in 

 number, but to the best of my observation, their normal number is 

 twelve ; they are most generally all fertile. The anthers are sup- 

 ported on slender bent filaments, and open by two lateral pores. The 

 ovaiy is superior, terminated by a long single style, and six-celled ; 

 the cells are monospermous. The fruit is unknown to me. 



" Only a short time ago the Taban-tree was tolerably abundant on 

 the island of Singapore, but already (middle of 1847) all the large 

 timber has been felled. Us geographical range, however, appears to 

 be considerable, it being found all up the Malayan peninsula, as far 

 as Penang, where I have ascertained it to be plentiful. Its favourite 

 localities are the alluvial tracts on the foot of hills, where it forms the 

 principal portion of the jungle. 



" The quantity of solid Gutta obtained from each tree, varies from 

 five to twenty catties, so that, taking the average often catties, which 

 is a tolerably liberal one, it will require the destruction of ten trees 

 to produce one picul. Now, the quantity exported from Singapore 

 to Europe, from the first of January, 1845, to the middle of 1847, 

 amounted to 6,918 piculs, to obtain which 69,180 trees must have 

 been sacrificed ! How much better would it be to adopt the method 

 of tapping the tree practised by the Burmese in obtaining the caout- 

 chouc, than to continue the present process of extermination." 



