JAVA. 



ture was this found to be, that the very touching with the hand 

 the Bamboo in which it was inclofed, occalioned a tingUng and 

 numbnefs hke that felt in a hmb that had been expofed to in- 

 tenfe cold, and fuddenly brought to the fire. 



Nature has wifely ordained that this baneful tree fliould be 

 extremely rare, and its fituation the moft fequeftered from the 

 bufy haunts of men, amidft mountains of difficult accefs, and 

 inhabited by the moft barbarous tribes ; they alone are ac- 

 quainted with the effeas that this fubtile poifon has upon the 

 circumambient air, and fuch animals as approach its tremendous 

 fhade. The atmofphere is here faid to be fo infefled by the de- 

 leterious quality of the effluvia of this peftilential tree, that birds 

 which accidentally perch upon its boughs are feized with torpor, 

 and drop down dead. No man dares approach it without his 

 hands, feet, and head being well fhrouded with linen cloths; 

 were this precaution negledted, he would become benumbed, 

 and prefently lofe the ufe of his limbs. The dripping of rain 

 water from the tree upon the body, caufes it to fwell: and 

 Ihould it fall upon the bare head, the lofs of all the hair would 

 enfue. No other tree can exift in its vicinity, and the earth be- 

 neath it is parched and withered ; fo that Death feems emi- 

 nently to have fixed his ftation here. 



It is no wonder that the love of the marvellous, natural to 

 mankind, has added fomewhat to the truly aftonifliing fcencs 

 that the environs of this tree exhibit. Hence the rude nations 

 of this mountanous tradt have made it the habitation of a fer- 

 pent, whofe eyes glare like fire in the night, and remind us of 



G 2 the 



43 



