70 THE EQUINOCTIAL ZONE. 



occurred, with precisely the same symptoms, 

 to a workman in the Calcutta Botanic Garden. 

 This man described the sensation, when water 

 was applied to the stung part, to be as if boil- 

 ing water had been poured over him. 



The celebrated upas also inhabits the woods 

 and forests of this portion of our globe. It was 

 formerly supposed that no one could approach 

 it without the most imminent danger of death, 

 from its poisonous exhalations. This is now, 

 however, to be classed among popular errors ; 

 still, the juice is a most virulent poison, one of 

 the most deadly known ; and it is even possible 

 that at certain seasons, arid especially during 

 the night, its exhalations may be of a noxious 

 character, like those of the West Indian man - 

 chineel tree, which is known to be highly 

 injurious, and is said to have been even fatal 

 to those who venture to sleep beneath its shade. 

 The poisonous character of the upas is said to 

 be owing to the presence of that most deadly 

 substance, strychnia. Linen made from its 

 tough fibres, if insufficiently prepared, is so' 

 acrid as to excite the most distressing itching. 



It is a singular fact, that this virulent plant 

 is very nearly allied, in its botanical character, 

 to the useful and delicious bread fruit. Java 

 also contains another plant, (Strychnos tieute,) 

 from the bark of the root of which a frightful 

 poison is prepared by the natives, who call it 

 tjettek and upas radja ; it is exceedingly viru- 

 lent, and probably owes its deadly nature to 

 strychnia. All the species of strychnos appear 



