POISON TREE OP JAVA. H 



wasliin^, and a lon^ imïTiersion in water before 

 it can be used, and even when it appcars com- 

 pletely parified, persons wearing this dress^, on 

 being exposed to the rain, are affected with aa 

 intolerable itching, wbicb renders tbeir flimsj 

 covering almost iusupportable. 



It will appear from the account of the man- 

 ner in whicb the poison is prepared, that the de- 

 leterious qu^litj exists in the Gum^ a small por- 

 tion of whicb stilladheringtotbebark^produces 

 when it becomes wet^ tbis irritating effect^ and it is 

 singular that tbis property of the prepared bark is 

 known to the Javanese in all places wbere the 

 tree grows ( for instance in various parts of the 

 Provinces of Bangil and Malang^ and even at 

 Onarang) wbile the preparation of a poison 

 from its juice, wbicb produces a mortal effect 

 when introduced into the body by pointed weap- 

 ons, is an exclusive art of the Inhabitants of the 

 Eastern extremity of the Island. 



One of the Regents in the Eastern districts 

 informed me, that having niany years ago^ pre- 

 pared caps or bonnets from the inner bark of 

 the Antshar, wbicb were stiifened in the usual 

 manner witb tbick rice water^ and handsomelv 

 painted, for the purpose of decorating bis Man- 

 tries^ tbey all decidedly refused to wear tbem. 



