THE UPAS-TREE. 251 



deservedly called the garden of Java ; it is but a small 

 province, but densely populated, and although several 

 thousands of feet above the level of the sea, is really 

 situated in a hollow, as its name signifies, — a large 

 basin, formed by lofty mountains and volcanoes, at times 

 reaching a height of 8,000 to 11,000 feet, and teaming 

 with virgin forests. Its extraordinary fertility is 

 proved by the utter absence of uncultivated ground ; 

 plantations of coffee, vanilla, cinchona, and tobacco on 

 the higher ground vie with those of sugar, rice, pepper, 

 cotton, and indigo on the lower and irrigated districts ; 

 besides the mountains produce much valuable timber 

 and sulphur, and even a Ijeautiful marble which is 

 celebrated all over the island. 



P'ew plants in Java being deciduous, the aspect of the 

 country is a smiling one throughout the year. There 

 are seen in conjunction with the plantations of produce, 

 palms, bamboos, and the deadly upas tree [Antiaris 

 texicaria) in the low land, succeeded by fig species and 

 th»' lofty rasimalas, prominent to the eye by their 

 in^nense^^hite trunks; then on a higher range still, oaks 

 and laurels ; and beyond 6,000 feet to the summit, 

 heath, pines, etc. As regards the poisonous property 

 of t he upas tree, authorities seem to differ. Mr. King- 

 ston, in his " Australian Abroad," gives an account of 

 a specimen he met with at the foot of the volcanic 



