OF PLANTS. 201 



by its slender poisonous hair, but we have no notion of 

 the torture which its near allies (Urtica stlmulans y U. 

 crenulata, Roxb.) produce in the East Indies. A gentle 

 touch suffices to cause the arm to swell up with the most 

 frightful pain, and the suffering lasts for weeks ; nay, a 

 species growing in Timor (Urtica urentissima, Blume), is 

 called by the natives Daoun Setan (devil's leaf), because 

 the pain lasts for years, and often even death can only be 

 avoided by the amputation of the injured limb. 



We do, indeed, find many violent poisons in this 

 family, and even some species of Fig are included among 

 the most dangerous plants (Ficus toxicaria, L.), but it is 

 not worth while to linger among those of lesser im- 

 portance. The tales recounted of the Upas and the 

 Poison-valley mingle almost like a dark and gloomy legend 

 in our knowledge of the East Indian Islands. The crown 

 of the Dutch colonies, Java, destined, both from its favour- 

 able position and inexhaustible wealth of production, to 

 become, in time, the central point of the great Indian 

 Archipelago, has at all times attracted the attention of 

 naturalists in the highest degree. Holland has always had 

 the glory never to have forgotten, at any time or in any of 

 her colonies, to note the natural productions of the 

 countries she has acquired, and to encourage the efforts 

 of Natural Science, to aid and to reward them. Swam- 

 merdamm, Leuwenhoek, Rheede tot Drakensteen, Rumph, 

 and others, not to speak of the living, will ever shine as 

 immortal names in the annals of Science. For the de- 

 scriptions we now possess of the Poison-tree, of which we 

 are speaking, we have to thank the encouragement and 

 assistance which the Dutch Government granted to natu- 

 ralists, especially to the yet living Drs. Blume and 



