Foreign Notices. — Asia. 21 S 



tageously imported into this country, and afforded to the tanner upon even 

 cheaper terms than the oak bark. 



The seed-pods of the Dividivi are pounded in a mortar, and then steeped 

 in water in large vats : when the water is well impregnated, the hide is 

 thrown into soak for four hours, then taken out to be rough-dressed, and 

 replaced in the vat for another four hours ; and this process is repeated till 

 the hide is well tanned, which is here the operation of a couple of days. 



Such is the rude process adopted in South America, which, though de- 

 fective in many particulars, is found to answer the purpose proposed. By 

 grinding the pods of the Dividivi in the same manner as bark, and mace- 

 rating them in warm water, by which the solution of the tanning principle 

 contained in them would be rendered more complete and expeditious, an 

 increased economy both of time and materials would be effected ; and the 

 process might, by other improvements in the manipulation, which the expe- 

 rience of the tanner cannot fail to suggest, be abridged still farther, and 

 rendered more effectual, so as to reduce the present high price of leather 

 very considerably. ( W. H. in Plym. Her. } May 5.) 



ASIA. 



Dr. Wallich has been very successful in exploring the Botany of the Simian 

 Empire- The number of species collected by him amounted, when the 

 mission left him at Amherst, to about sixteen thousand, of which five hun- 

 dred and upwards are new and undescribed. Among these last may be 

 mentioned seven species of oak, two species of walnut, a rose, three willows, 

 a raspberry, and a pear. Several plants discovered by him are so remark T 

 able, as to constitute themselves new genera. Among the latter may be 

 mentioned one which has been called Amhe'rstia, in compliment to, Lady 

 Amherst. This constitutes, probably, the most beautiful and noble plant of 

 the Indian Flora. Two trees of it only are known to exist, and these are 

 found in the gardens of a monastery on the banks of the Salwen. The, 

 number of specimens brought to Calcutta amount to little less than eighteen 

 thousand, among which are many beautiful live plants for the botanic garden, 

 chiefly of the orchideous, scitamineous, and liliaceous families. The Hima^ 

 laya chain of mountains are from 5000 to 4000 feet high, and their Flora 

 combines that of continental India and the Malayan countries. In econo- 

 mical botany, the tree producing, the celebrated varnish has been discovered 

 and described ; the different mimosas producing catechu determined ; the 

 fine durable timber of the Burmans, called Thingan, ascertained to be the 

 Hopea odorata of Roxburgh, and the Soonsdree, another valuable timber, 

 the Heritiera robusta. A forest of teak trees was found, many of the trees 

 measuring from 18 ft. to 19 ft. in circumference. The botanical world 

 await the result of Dr. Wallich's mission with the greatest interest. {Em- 

 bassy to Ava in 1826-7.) 



The Bo?'dssus flabelliformis is of as much importance to the inhabitants 

 of the north of Ceylon, as the Cocos nucifera is to- the inhabitants of the 

 south of that island. The inhabitants of the north depend upon the 

 produce of the -Borassus flabelliformis, for a considerable portion of their 

 food, and of the articles which they export ; the inhabitants of the south 

 depend as much for food, and for articles of export, upon the produce of 

 the Cocos nucifera : and it is to be remarked that, although there are 

 forests of the .Borassus flabelliformis in the north of the island, you seldom 

 meet with a single tree of the Cocos nucifera; and that, although there are 

 /orests of the Cocos nucifera in the south of the island, you seldom meet 

 with a single tree of the .Borassus flabelliformis. there. 



The Kitul Tree, or Caryota iirens, has given rise in Ceylon to a distinct 

 cast amongst the natives of the country. This cast is called the cast of 

 Jaggeraros, from the sugar which is made of the produce of the Caryota 



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