THE GUTTA PERCHA. 49 



it, by simply cutting a large hole in the tree, into which 

 fire being placed, the oil is attracted. The tree pro- 

 bably belongs to the order Myrtaceae, but I have never 

 seen it; it is found plentifully to the eastward, in the 

 interior of the Samarhand, and Sadong rivers : it is 

 used by the natives to mix with dammer for paying the 

 seams of boats, and also instead of linseed oil in mix- 

 ing their paints, and is of great assistance in preserving 

 wood from the effects of the weather. 



The seeds of many of the forest trees, as the niato, 

 or gutta percha, of the Malay peninsula, produce edible 

 oils of fine qualities ; but the natives, possessing such 

 a choice, rarely take the trouble to express them ; but 

 in future it will be well worth the study of our 

 merchants and others whose occupation and oppor- 

 tunities will permit them to make inquiries respecting 

 these and many other totally unknown products. 



The gutta percha, or niato, is a plant which has 

 been lately brought before the attention of British 

 merchants by Dr. W. Montgomerie and Dr. D'Al- 

 meida, the former of whom communicated some infor- 

 mation respecting its application to surgical purposes to 

 the Bengal Medical Board, in 1843. In April, of the 

 same year, Dr. D'Almeida presented specimens of it 

 to the Royal Society of Arts in London, who, at the 

 time, merely acknowledged the receipt of the specimens. 

 Its character and properties have since been more 

 fully given to the public by Dr. Oxley, the senior sur- 

 geon of the Straits settlements ; a gentleman whose 

 kindness and valuable assistance all who visit the 

 East for scientific purposes have gratefully to record. 



