IN BORNEAN FORESTS [chap, xviii 



of an unusual type. The new genus which I have established for 

 this beautiful palm commemorates the name of Professor Henry H. 

 Giglioli ; and — as I have already stated in my Malesia (vol. i. 

 p. 171), where this palm is scientifically described — I was happy 

 thus and with this dedication to discharge a debt of gratitude 

 towards the old friend who has ever followed with much love and 

 cordial interest my various peregrinations. Gigliolia is the only 

 generic type amongst palms which is peculiar to Borneo, all the 

 other genera of this family being represented in the neighbouring 

 lands, especially on the Malay Peninsula and in Sumatra. 



I had so far been unable to find men for my excursions on the 

 river, or to fell trees of which I wished to secure specimens ; but, 

 thanks to Mr. Houghton's kind aid, I was at last able to engage 

 three Malays, who entered my service with a salary of one sukku 

 (eighteen cents) per diem. 



On the seventeenth of August it was 72 Fahr. in the night, and 

 I observed the same temperature at 6 a.m. Here, as elsewhere, the 

 minimum temperature in the twenty-four hours is found just before 

 sunrise. The observation of the preceding day was, however, an 

 exception to this rule (which I have almost always found true), 

 for it gave during the night a minimum of 67 Fahr.— the lowest 

 temperature at sea level which I observed during my stay in Borneo, 

 while just previous to sunrise the thermometer stood at 72 . 



Next day I went with my men into the adjacent forest, where 

 amongst other interesting plants, I found the " Akar Belangan," 

 a creeper of the genus Dalbergia : a leguminous plant, with very 

 spinous stems, the heart of which assumes with age a red coloration, 

 giving origin to the substance which the Malays call "Kayu Lakka." 1 

 This is much sought after by Chinamen, who use it as they do 

 " Aguila," or " Aquila wood," or " Ankaras," in religious ceremonies, 

 but not as a dye, as the native name might appear to imply, " Lakka " 

 meaning " red dye." 



In the Bintulu forest certain creepers belonging to the family 

 of the Apocynaceae abounded, highly interesting from an industrial 

 point of view, for from some of them indiarubber of a good quality 

 is obtained. Amongst them was a new Leuconotis, which I propose 

 to distinguish as L. elastica. It is known in Sarawak by 

 the names of " Akar sarapat laki " and " Akar janta-an ular," and 

 I had found it at Kuching : but it does not appear to be common 

 in any place, and this is a pity, for the milky juice it exudes 

 coagulates at once in elastic filaments, giving an indiarubber 



1 The spines which cover the stem of this Dalbergia, which appears to be 

 allied to D. parvi flora, Roxb., are of quite a peculiar nature, and not produced 

 from the epidermis, nor the result of modifications of branches or stipules. 

 Morphologically they appear to me aerial rootlets — a very rare case amongst 

 Dicotyledonous plants, though not uncommon in palms. 



260 



