CASSIA ALATA. 223 



by far preferable, as a ship would be delayed 

 entering this harbour or strait, by waiting for 

 a fair wind, and her departure also retarded 

 by a similar cause. We entering on one side, 

 and taking our departure from the other, passed 

 entirely through, having an excellent view of 

 the picturesque scenery of this lovely and pleas- 

 ing spot. We did not, from the extended 

 length of our excursion, return to Singapore 

 until about noon. 



There is a plant very abundant about some 

 parts of Singapore, the Cassia alata, which may 

 be seen in profusion by the road-side, often 

 glowing with golden flowers ; it is called G'ling 

 gang, or Pako, g'ling, glang, (Pako signifying 

 a tree,) by the Malays, who state that they use 

 it in several diseases of the skin by rubbing the 

 leaves of the plant upon the diseased surface. 

 Mr. Oxley (civil-surgeon at this settlement,) 

 informs me that he has used it with excellent 

 effect in that troublesome herpetic disease called 

 " ring-worm;" and his method of application 

 is by bruising the leaves, mixing them with salt 

 and lime-juice, and then using them as an ex- 

 ternal application,* 



* Sandal -wood oil is also regarded as a never-failing spe- 

 cific for this very troublesome eruptive disease. — I am 



