132 



in a wild state ; it is now, however, being much planted, CAS^B 

 and there is every probability of its again becoming 72. 

 common. 



This destruction was stated in 1878 by Dr. Dennys, " to 

 be so enormous that it seems impossible for the supply 

 to long continue, it is computed that over 7,000 trees 

 were cut down during 1877 in the neighbourhood of 

 Klang, while 4,000 must have perished near Selangor in a 

 single month to furnish the 270 piculs (a picul = 133^ lbs.) 

 returned as exported. The estimated annual export from 

 the Straits Settlements and the Peninsula was given 

 as 10 millions of pounds in 1875, which at the high 

 average ot 16 lbs. to a single tree would give 800,000 trees. 

 The demand seems always to exceed the supply." The 

 quantity of Gutta Percha imported into this country in 

 1901 amounted to 88,438 cwts. of the value of £1,382,646, 

 whilst the imports of this product during 1905 only 

 amounted to 45,434 cwts. of the value of £361,475. 



Various samples of crude Gutta Percha of different 

 qualities are shown from Perat, Borneo, Singapore, &c. 



Observe section of stem from Singapore which has been 

 gashed for the extraction of gutta. 



The last compartment of this Case contains numerous 

 articles made from Gutta Percha. Note also sections of 

 marine telegraph cables, telephone wires, &c., insulated 

 with this substance. 



On the upper shelves of the first compartment of this CASE 

 Case observe specimens of Gutta Percha from Palaquium 73. 

 Gutta, Burck, var. oblong i folia, a large evergreen tree of 

 the Malayan Peninsula, and Getah Puteh and Getah 

 Taban Simpor (P. Maingayi, King & Gamble), a tree 

 attaining a height of 60 feet, also of the Malayan 

 Peninsula. Near these note Getah Soentei from P. 

 oleosum, Burck, and a sample of concrete oil from the 

 seeds, from Sumatra. Other gutta-yielding species of 

 Palaquium are contained in this Case. 



No. 347. Mahwa or MOWA Tree {Bassia laiifolia, 

 Roxb.). This is one of the most important forest trees of 

 India, where it is much cultivated, and where cultivated, 

 frequently self-sown. It yields an excellent timber but 

 is valued more particularly for the sweet and fleshy 



