ON THE PRODUCTS OF THE PEA FAMILY. 269 



the relatives of the deceased, who can only prove their innocence by 

 swallowing a mixture of this poison. The native belief is that the innocent 

 vomit and are safe, while the guilty retain the poison and die ; they are 

 very strong in this belief, and even demand the ordeal as a right. The 

 pods of the " Kiwach," Mucuria prurita, Hook., a native of the East Indies, 

 is there used as an article of food. A decoction of the root or pods is said 

 to be diuretic, and a sure remedy for dropsy. The Mucuna pruriens, of 

 the West Indies, known as the " Cow Itch," has a place in our Materia 

 Medica, on account of its anthelmintic properties, the setee or hairs of the 

 pods being the part used. These hairs are supposed to act mechanically 

 upon the animals. 



The wood of Erytliina Indica, Lam., a tree growing to a height of from 

 20 to 30 feet, and a native of various parts of India, is known as 

 " Mootchie " wood, and employed for making toys and other ornamental 

 articles, it being light and easily worked up. On account of the spines 

 with which the tree is armed, it constitutes a capital fence for keeping out 

 cattle. The leaves and bark are considered by the natives as a specific in 

 fevers ; they are likewise used in other branches of medicine. 



E. acanihocarpa, E. Mey., produces large club-shaped tubers about 

 2 feet in length, and 3 or 4 inches across, when first dug up they are very 

 heavy on account of the moisture contained in them ; but, when this has 

 evaporated, they become of a soft, pithy consistence, exceedingly light, and 

 in this state are much used for making hats, floats, and other light articles. 

 Two fine specimens of these tubers may be seen in the Museum of the 

 Royal Gardens, Kew. This plant is found growing abundantly in the 

 open country north of the Amatola mountains, in the district of North 

 Victoria, South Africa. 



Butea frondosa, Roxb., a showy tree with scarlet flowers, a native of the 

 East Indies, known by the name of Dhak, or Pulas, grows plentifully at 

 Malabar, and in other parts of India. The natives beat the bark into a 

 fibre, which furnish them with cordage, &c. Dr. Royle states that this 

 fibre is very strong, but not suitable as an article of commerce in this 

 country. The resin called Butea Kino is produced by this plant, and oozes 

 from wounds in the bark, becoming hard and brittle ; it is slightly soluble 

 in alcohol and ether, very astringent, and contains a large quantity of 

 tannin. It is applied in medicine in various ways. From the flowers an 

 infusion of a bright yellow colour is prepared and used in dyeing cotton, 

 which, by the addition of an alkali, produces a reddish orange. This dye 

 is known in India as " Teesoo." The seeds are occasionally used as an 

 anthelmintic. The wood is much employed — reduced to charcoal — in the 

 manufacture of gunpowder, and in Ceylon for house-building purposes. 



B. superba, Roxb., has similar properties to the foregoing species. The 

 gum of B. parviflora, Roxb., is given, dissolved in Arrack, in hysteria and 

 colic. The Kidney Beans (of which the well-known "French bean" and 

 " Scarlet runner " are representatives), are produced by the genus Phaseolus. 

 The former of Phaseolus vulgaris, L., the latter — P. multiflorus, Lam., the 



