174 Prof. Royle’s Lecture on the Great Exhibition of 18651. 
gummy juice which drains out of the bodies or limbs of trees,” 
and that “the articles lackered are cabinets, desks, &c.” Some 
chemical change, no doubt, takes place on exposure of these 
juices to the air. * 
This kind of lacquered ware was much appreciated in the last 
century, and was imported chiefly from China; much, however, 
was always prepared in Burma, though that of Japan was always 
considered superior to any other, and of which many fine speci- 
mens may still be seen in large folding screens, &c. Both these 
and the lacquer of Burma are prepared only from the juice of 4 
family of plants, (the T'erebinthacee,) the same as that to which 
the marking nut and sumach belong. 
The chief expense of the manufacture arises from the care 
with which successive layers of varnish must be laid on. Vati- 
ous specimens of boxes have been sent from Moulmein and from 
Singapore, some showing different stages of the process. 
Another kind of lacquer-work is rather of the nature of pa- 
pier-maché, covered with one or more layers of Jac varnish. ‘This 
is the case with the lacquered boxes from Cashmere and Lahore, 
so remarkable for the beauty and elegance of their patterns. 
Sealing- War is also made from lac, and several varieties have 
been sent from different parts of India. Grarcias ab Orto described 
it as made from lac in the year 1563. Tavernier mentions the 
same fact. ‘The Spaniards have obtained credit for the invention ; 
but they, no doubt, learned it from the Arabs. A Frenchman 
who travelled much in Persia and different parts of the East In- 
dies is also thought to have been the discoverer; and by Beck- 
mann it is considered to be a German invention. This is hardly 
a chemical art, but it is probably better placed here than elsewhere. 
Paper.—The art of making paper is considered to be a Chi- 
nese invention, but it has long been known in India, where papet 
is made both of cotton and of the substitutes for hemp and flax. 
in the Himalayas it is made of the inner bark of Daphne canna- 
ina, and in sheets of immense size. A large collection was ex 
hibited from different parts of India, but, though well adapt 
for writing on in India, it is not suited for Europe, in consequence 
of the difference in the ink used. 
(To be continued.) 
