POISONOUS PLANTS. 427 



into the forests of the great African island of Madagascar. The in- 

 salubrity of the climate and the jealous inhospitality of the inhabitants 

 will not permit us to penetrate far into their luxuriant depths ; but 

 the most superficial glance will satisfy us upon their wild magnificence 

 and the original variety of their superb flora.* 



We should seek in vain among their leafy, blossoming glades, for 

 the famous Manchineal, a member of the American Euphorbiacece, 

 which holds a high place in the records of vegetable poisons ; but the 

 toxicological amateur will find ample compensation in examining the 

 formidable Tanghin,-f- whose deadly juice, mixed with some other sub- 

 stances, plays an important part in the judicial ordeals popular among 

 the Malagasy. 



The Tangiiin, or Tanguen (T. venenifera), is the only plant of its 

 genus, and is confined to Madagascar. It is described as a tree with 

 smooth alternate leaves of moderate thickness, clustered towards the 

 points of the branches, with large terminal cymes of flowers, having a 

 salver-shaped carolla, with rose-coloured lobes. The ovary is twofold, 

 with a long style and thick stigma ; but usually only one attains to 

 perfection, and forms an ellipsoid fruit, somewhat pointed at the ends, 

 invested in a smooth purplish-green skin, and containing a hard stone 

 surrounded by a thick fibrous pulp. The poisonous seed of the Tan- 

 ghin is esteemed by the natives an infallible criterion of guilt or 

 innocence. After being pounded, a small piece is swallowed by the 

 supposed criminal. If he be cursed with a strong stomach, which 

 retains the poison, he speedily dies, and is held guilty ; if his feeble 

 digestion rejects it, he necessarily escapes, and his innocence is con- 

 sidered proven. 



Beneficent Nature has planted by the side of this fatal tree a 

 species of infinite value, the Ravenala Madagascariensis, or " Tra- 

 veller' s-Tree," which derives the latter designation from the base of 

 the petiole of its large leaves, expanded and hollowed out into a kind 

 of gutter, being constantly filled with fresh water, and serving as a 

 reservoir for the thirsty wayfarer. The Vacquois, or Vacoa (Pan- 



* Piev. W. Ellis, " Three Visits to Madagascar." f Ortkr, Apocynacex. 



