132 BOTANY OF INDIA. 



was published by Dr. Wallich in the Asiatic Researches. 

 As the information which he there gives is curioas and in- 

 terestintr, and probably new to most of our readers, we 

 shall lay it before them. The principal species made use 

 of in the making of paper is the Daphne cannahma. It is 

 a very branching shrub, six or eight feet high, with lanceo- 

 late shining leaves, and grows in the mountainous parts of 

 Hindostan,1from Ncpaul to the province of Kemaoon. The 

 flowers are exquisitely fragrant, resembling those of the 

 I), odora of our hot-houses. The paper manufactured from 

 the bark is of various dimensions and texture. The finest 

 kind measures ten feet in length by four feet in breadth, 

 and is manufoctured chiefly in Dotee, a province to the 

 eastward of Kemaoon. It approaches in softness and size 

 to that which is made in China, and Dr. Wallich thinks it 

 is not improbable that some of the latter may be produced 

 from the same material. The following particulars are ex- 

 tracted by Dr. Wallich from the MSS. of Lieutenant H. K. 

 Murray, forming a part of that gentleman's official corres- 

 pondence with the Military Board at Calcutta :— " 1 he 

 Sel-Burooa, or paper-shrub, is found on the most exposed 

 parts of the mountains, and those tlie most elevated and 

 covered with snow, throughout the province of Kemaoon. 

 In traversing the oak-forests between Bheemtah and Ram- 

 ghur, and attain from Almora to Chumpawat and down 

 towards the river, it has come under the immediate obser- 

 vation of the writer of these communications, that the Sct- 

 Burooa, or paper-plant, only thrives luxuriantly where the 

 oak grows ; so that it is not likely that it will succeed in 

 the plains. It is hardy, and attains a height of five or six 

 feet ; blossoming in January and February, and ripening 

 its acrid red fruit about the end of April. The paper pre- 

 pared from its bark is particularly calculated for cartridges, 

 being strong, tough, not liable to crack or break, however 

 much bent or folded, proof against being moth-eaten, and 

 not in the least subject to dampness from any change in 

 the weather ; besides, if drenched or kept in water for any- 

 considerable time, it will not rot. It is invariably used all 

 over Kemaoon, and in great request in many parts of the 

 plains, for the purpose of writing misubnamees or genea- 

 logical records, deeds, &c., from its extraordinary dura- 

 bility. It is generally made about one yard square, and 



