ANACARDIACE^. 273 



3. lancecBfolia, Roxb. {H. B. p. 32. — B. lancifolia, Roxb. fl. ind. 2, p. 

 386 ; — not B. lanceolata, Wight.) L. b Chittagong. Introduced 

 into H. C. G. in 1810, but had not fl. up to 1814. Fruit eaten by 

 the natives. {Roxb.) 



Mklanorrhcea, Wall, {pi. as. rar. 1, p. 9; — G. Don's Mill. diet. 2, 

 p. 67.) 

 1. usitatissima, Wall. {o. c. t. 11, 12 ; — 0. Don. I. c.) L. b Varnishing- 

 tree of the Burmese. Prome. Martaban, Moulmein. Tavoy. Has been 

 in the garden here for five years, but has not flowered yet. This is 

 identical with the majestic Khen or varnish-tree of Munipur, which 

 perhaps does not differ from the varnish-tree of the Chinese. The 

 varnish is procurable in great quantities from Munipur, where it is 

 used for painting river- craft, and for varnishing vessels destined to 

 contain liquid. The drug is conveyed to Silhet by the merchants. 

 On being handled it occasions extensive erysipelatous swellings, 

 attended with pain and fever, but never of long duration. In the 

 neighbourhood of Prome, a considerable quantity of varnish is extract- 

 ed from the tree, but very little at Martaban. Short joints of a thin 

 sort of bamboo, sharpened at one end, and shut up at the other, are 

 inserted in a slanting direction into holes made in the trunk and 

 principal branches, and left there for 24 or 48 hours ; after which 

 they are removed, and their contents emptied into a basket previously 

 varnished over. Sometimes a hundred bamboos may be seen sticking 

 into the tree at once during the collecting season, which lasts as 

 long as the tree is destitute of leaves, namely from January until 

 April, and they are renewed as long as the juice will flow. Every arti- 

 cle of household destined to contain liquid food is lacquered over with 

 this juice in its pure state or variously coloured, after having previously 

 been prepared with calcined bones. The process of drying is the 

 most difiicult part, being effected in a very slow and gradual manner 

 by the varnished articles being placed in subterranean vaults for se- 

 veral months. The drug is also used as size-glue in the process of 

 gilding ; nothing more being required than to besmear the surface 

 of the article to be gilded with it, and immediately to apply the gold 

 leaf. The beautiful Pali writing of the religious order of the Burmese 

 on ivory, palm leaves, or metal, is entirely done with this varnish in 

 its native and pure state. {Wall.) 



PisTAciA, L. {DC.pr. 2. p. 64.) 



1. vera, L. {DC. I. c.) b Syria, from whence it was introduced into Italy 

 by the emperor Vitellius, when he was legate in that province. It is 

 now found throughout the whole region of the Mediterranean. Fl. 

 small, brownish green. Has been introduced into H. C. G. Fl. ? 

 Produces the Pistachia or Pistach nuts. 



2. Terebinthus, L. {DC. pr. 2, p. 64.) Venetian or Chian Turpentine- 

 tree. 5 S. Europe, N. Africa. The resin of this tree is the Chian or 



2 X 



