268 
Oss. The wood of this tree is of a fine 
ii colour towards the centre, and lighter 
coloured near the circumference. The 
bark exudes a resin which is extremely 
acrid, and, applied to the skin, causes ex- 
coriation and blisters; The people consi- 
der it dangerous to handle any part of the 
tree, and even to sit or sleep under its 
shade. This resin, on exposure to the air, 
soon assumes a black colour, and becomes 
ard; it is collected and employed as a 
varnish, and sells for this purpose at a high 
price. According to Rumphius, it is this 
tree which yields the so much celebrated 
Japan lacquer or varnish, and he considers 
it the same with that of Siam and Tonquin. 
Loureiro, however, who had better oppor- 
tunities of observing the latter, represents 
the varnish of those countries as the pro- 
duce of a different tree, which he has de- 
scribed under the name of Augia. The 
varnish of Siam and Cochinchina is pro- 
bably the best; but that of Celebes and 
Java, which is the produce of this tree, is 
also employed for the same purposes, and 
cannot be much inferior, since it bears as 
high a price, and according to Rumphius, 
higher. The process of obtaining and 
using it is thus given by Rumphius :— 
“The exhalations of this tree are consi- 
dered noxious, and the people of Macassar 
and other parts of Celebes in particular, 
entertain. such dread of it, that they dare 
not remain long under it, much less repose 
beneath its shade; they say that whoever 
receives the droppings from it, will have 
his body swell and be affected with malig- 
nant sores. As, however, it furnishes the 
so celebrated varnish, other people boldly 
repair to this tree, particularly the Chinese 
and Tonkinese, who employ great precau- 
tions in collecting the resin, which is ac- 
complished in the following manner. A 
number of Chinese proceed, about evening, 
tothe place where the trees grow, which 
 Àsalways at a distance from the resort of 
men or animals, each selects a few, and 
inserts nto the trunks two peon of bam- 
DESCRIPTION OF MALAYAN PLANTS, 
night, and are extracted before sun-rise the 
next morning, the trees yielding no juice 
during the The resin is found in 
greater or less quantity according to the 
richness or poorness of the soil, and is 
obtained only at certain seasons of the 
year, particularly about the time of flow- 
ering. The people who collect it unite the 
produce of their labour, and afterwards 
make an equal division of the whole, on 
which account this resin maintains a high 
price, a single pikul (containing a hundred 
catties) selling, in those provinces of China 
which do not possess this tree, for two or 
three hundred dollars; in Tonkin and 
Camboja, however, it may be had for thirty, 
fifty, or sixty dollars. Itis a custom among 
the Chinese, when they approach this tree, 
first to rub its trunk lightly, before insert- 
ing the bamboos, wishing by this to show 
that they are not afraid, for they say that 
timid persons will sooner feel its noxious 
effects than those who are bold and fear- 
less. 
“ The resin is prepared for varnish in 
the following way :—To one pound of resin 
add an equal weight of the oil of Tang-yhu, 
which is a Chinese tree related to the | 
Boonga Tanjong [Mimusops Elengi] from — 
whose fruit a red transparent vil is prepar- — 
ed, resembling our Linseed Oil: others 
put one pound of oil to three of the resin, 
which are gently heated together, and make 
a very black varnish. If, however, toone — 
pound of resin, two pounds of oil be add- 
ed, a varnish of a brownish yellow, and 
sometimes of a straw-colour, is produced, 
with which wood is lightly done over, to 
bring out the grain and veins. Moreover, 
if while the varnish is heated, red lead, 
powdered galls, or other dry pigments be 
added, it gives the same colour to the work 
upon which it is employed. This liquid a 
varnish ought to be covered with water to 3 
prevent its becoming hard. The articles — 
to which the varnish is applied must always 
be placed in a cool and moist place to dry, — | 
which. ny do slowly; but when pen a 
hardened, the varnish never becomes S$ 
again, Mbit the suffusion of hot walat 
which often dissolves it. | 
EU: 
