258 POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



Gutta Percha (the cli in the latter being pronounced as in 

 perch, a fish). The name is pure Malayan; Gutta meaning 

 the gum or concrete juice of the plant, and Percha the 

 particular tree from which it is obtained. I could not help 

 thinking that the tree itself must exist in Sumatra, and per- 

 haps derive its name from thence, the Malayan name for 

 Sumatra being Pulo Percha; but though the Straits of 

 Malacca are situated only one degree to the north of Sin- 

 gapore, I could not find that the substance has ever been 

 heard of there or in Sumatra." 



The imports of this article have increased very rapidly; 

 they amounted last year (1852) to nearly 1000 tons. 



Many other gums and resins are imported, but of those 

 undescribed in this chapter the greater part are used in 

 pharmacy, and consequently belong to the chapter on 

 Materia Medica, where a description of some of the most 

 interesting will be found. 



