Miscellaneous, 155 



and Beziikie ; I found it also on the mountain Watargan near Puger, 

 on the south coast of the division of Bondowosso. The flower was 

 brought to me from Jengawar in the same division. All these places 

 lie in the lime formation, and I consider that the Raffiesia is an ex- 

 anthem of the roots of Cissus scariosa, Bl., and may occur wherever 

 its mother-plant grows. It is still uncertain whether my specimens 

 belong to the species which Blume found on Nusa Kambangan. 

 Blume's specimens must have been larger. The largest I possess do 

 not attain so much as a foot in diameter, and mostly only -i-f f. This 

 plant probably occurs also on Nusa Baron, and, it is likely, along the 

 lime hills which nearly surround the whole south coast of Java. I 

 have often seen on one root of Cissus scariosa three or more Raf- 

 flesia. It does not occur on the sand of the coast, as many believe 

 and assert, but mostly in the ravines and humid hollows of the lime 

 rocks. The Javanese of Eastern Java name this flower Pidh mo, or 

 Pidehmu. It is scarcely possible to conceive what idolatrous notions 

 are entertained concerning the flower by this people. An ordinary 

 man would not be able to find it until after he has fasted and prayed 

 or been sanctified when he goes to search for it. The flower is pre- 

 pared with other articles as a medicine which is used after delivery 

 by women, in order completely to purify the matrix. It is also 

 amongst the most reputed aphrodisiacs of the Javanese, although 

 only for women of the higher classes. Common women would be 

 taken sick were they to use this medicine. It is further said, that if 

 a woman of the people has recourse to it, and afterwards going out 

 on foot treads on some dirty place, she vvill ever after forfeit the in- 

 clination of all men. The Javanese reckon the Rafflesta properly 

 amongst the fungi, an opinion which is partly received in science ; at 

 least in so far, that we have placed the plant in the natural system 

 as a link between the sponges and the higher plants. — From the 

 Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia for Aug. 1847. 



On the Gamboge of the Tenasserim Provinces. 

 By the Rev. F. Mason, A.M. 



In conversation with a distinguished medical oflicer, and member of 

 the Asiatic Society, I found that he was not at all aware that the 

 Tenasserim Provinces produce Gamboge. It has therefore occurred 

 to me that a brief notice of the Gamboge of these provinces might 

 not be unacceptable to the readers of the Journal, and would con- 

 tribute its influence to draw attention to a most interesting portion 

 of the British provinces in the East ; one that is exceeded by few in 

 the richness and variety of its natural productions. 



Three works in my possession describe Gamboge each as the pro- 

 duct of a diff'erent tree ; a fourth represents all to be wrong, and a 

 fifth suggests a different plant still. One refers it to Cambogia gutta, 

 a plant which, as described by Linnaeus, has probably no existence. 

 He described a Ceylon plant ; and it is now quite evident, savs Dr. 

 Wight, " that the character of the flower and ovary is taken from 

 one specimen, and that of the fruit from a difterent one, owing to 



