FOREST PRODUCTS. Ill 



Diospyros Embryopteris, found from the sea coast up to 

 2,500 feet elevation (Wynaad). This tree affects the neigh- 

 bourhood of streams as a rule. The fruit contains a large 

 quantity of very clear liquid gum which is exceedingly as- 

 tringent. This gum is used for tanning fishing-lines, nets, 

 &c., and in colouring and glazing the slices of areca nuts 

 which are sold in the bazaars. 



Erythrina Indica. Common throughout Malabar, both 

 cultivated and wild ; yields a poor gum of a dark colour. 



Euphorbia Nivulia yields a copious supply of milky 

 sap of poisonous odour. On congelation, it produces a 

 hard somewhat brittle, yellow gum which partially melts 

 when thrown into hot water. This Euphorbia is very com- 

 mon on the low laterite hills near Calicut. 



Euphorbia Pulcherima. This shrub is cultivated in 

 gardens for its lovely scarlet bracts. The milky sap pro- 

 duces, when dried, a darkish gum. 



Ficus Elastica. This fig has only recently been intro- 

 duced into Malabar, and is growing well in the Manantoddy 

 Botanical Garden. The India rubber produced by it, is too 

 well known to need description. 



Ficus religiosa. The peepul is a common tree through- 

 out the district. Its milky sap hardens into an inferior 

 Gutta Percha. 



Garcinia pictoria (Morella). A common tree on the 

 Western Ghat where it grows in the heavy evergreen 

 forests at an elevation of from 1,000 to 2,500 feet. This 

 species produces the true gamboge of commerce; but it 

 seems to be greatly neglected. I have found on prodding the 

 bark with an awl that a small mass of excellent gamboge 

 appears of about the size of a pea. If the bark is cut, tears 

 of gamboge collect along the edges of the bark, where cut, 

 and dry. The easiest way of extracting the gamboge is to 

 scrape the bark carefully, so as to remove all particles of 

 dead bark, moss, and other impurities. The bark is then 

 peeled off the trunk, and pounded in a mortar. The whole 



