46 



M A L A Y A N I S L E 3. 



<' about fifteen or fixteen miles diitant. The letter proved of 

 *' great fervice to me in my undertaking, as that prieft is ap- 

 <' pointed by the emperor to refide there, to prepare for eternity 

 <* the fouls of thofe who for different crimes are fentenced to 

 " approach the tree, and to procure the poifon. From his houfe 

 " the criminals are fent for the poifon, into which the points of 

 '* all warlike inftruments are dipped. It is of high value, and 

 " produces a confiderable revenue to the emperor. 



" The poifon which is procured from this tree, is a gum that 

 <' iffues out between the bark and the tree itfelf, like the cam- 

 ** phor. Malefa6tors, who for their crimes are fentenced to die, 

 " are the only perfons who fetch the ix)ifon ; and this is the 

 ^' only chance they have of faving their lives. After fentence 

 " is pronounced upon them by the judge, they are alked in 

 " court, whether they will die by the hands of the executioner, 

 *' or whether they will go to the Upas tree for a box of poifon. 

 *' They commonly prefer the latter propofal, as there is not only 

 " fome chance of preferving their lives, but alfo a certainty, in 

 " cafe of their fafe return, that a provifion will be made for 

 " them in future by the emperor. They are alfo permitted to 

 " aflc a favor from the emperor, which is generally of a trifling 

 " nature, and commonly granted. They are then provided 

 with a filver or tortoifefliell box, in which they are to put 

 the poifonous gum, and are properly inftrudted how to pro- 

 " ceed while they are upon their dangerous expedition. Among 

 " other particulars, they are always told to attend to the direc- 

 " tion of the winds ; as they are to go towards the tree before 

 « the wind, fo that the effluvia from the tree are always blown 



" from 





