are given to the public by a furgeon, be- 

 longing to the Dutch Eaft-India company, 

 of the name of Foerfch, who was ftationed 

 at Batavia in the year 1774. Surprizing 

 however as thefe accounts may be, they 

 are accompanied with fo many public facts ; 

 and names of perfons, and places, that it is 

 fomewhat difficult to conceive them fabulous. 



The abridged narrative of this flrange 



production, is this. 



The Upas grows about twenty-feven leagues 

 from Batavia, in a plain furrounded by rocky 

 mountains j the whole of which plain, con- 

 taining a circle of ten, or twelve miles round 

 the tree, is totally barren. Nothing, that 

 breathes, or vegetates, can live within it's 

 influence. The bird, that flies over it drops 

 down dead. The beaft, that wanders into it, 

 expires. The whole dreadful area is covered 

 with fand, over which lie fcattered loofe flints, 



and whitening bones. This tree may be 



called the emperor's great military magazine. 

 In a folution of the poifonous gum, which 

 exudes from it, his arrows, and oftenfive 

 weapons are dipped. The procuring there- 

 fore of this poifonous gum, is a matter of 

 as much attention, as of difficulty. Criminals 



only 



