156 VOYAGE EKOM 1^'DIA TO tSIAM AND MALACCA. 



which had developed much more since last I saw it, but had 

 not attained their full size yet, so that I cannot say with cer- 

 tainty that it has a double calyx, or that the outer part is rather 

 an Involucrum, but I made a description of it as well as I could 

 I obtained some roots of the Plumbago coccinea, and some ripe 

 seed of the Saraca. 



In the afternoon I went into a ricefield, which was dry at 

 present, where I found various seeds of Hedysarums, of the 

 Fhaseolus inehrians in Badhaum Herm mus Zeyl pag". 55, and 

 several other kinds. On my way back I passed a Chinese 

 pag'oda, the beams of which some parts of the woodwork inside 

 were painted with beautiful bright colour, which made me 

 inquire after the oil with which these colours had been prepared, 

 and as I had the good luck to enter the house of one of the rich- 

 est Chinese merchants, I received the information that the colours 

 were mixed with the finest so-called wood oil, which is quite white. 

 I bought a bottle of this oil for an experiment, and paid one Zubug 

 for it. At this rich Chinaman's place I saw many sorts of trees, the 

 stems standing hardly a hand wide above the ground ; they were 

 four to five inches thick, and were planted in flower-pots. From 

 these stems issued thin short branches, bearing blossoms. This 

 whole arrangement was of the same nature as that, which I had 

 seen in Inthia near the doctor's house. This Chinese merchant 

 had also a little temple for his own private use; there was a kind 

 of altar erected in it, upon which was placed the sitting figure 

 of a stout fat idol, with small eyes; near it were some books 

 and other figures. This temple stood apart in the garden, some 

 steps leading up to it, and round this temple, which was about 

 six steps long and four steps wide, there was a covered pass- 

 age. It was made of wood, covered with many pictures, and 

 specially at the farthest end there were many representations 

 of man after death ; below these were represented punishments, 

 in some metamorphosis into hideous animals was depicted, others 

 lay in flames, other were devoured by hideous animals. Those who 

 had killed many animals were devoured by long beaked birds, 

 etc. The blissful condition, after death was depicted as life 

 in fine houses with beautiful women. 



From here I went to the Chinese chemists, who are doctors 

 at the same time. I found there a kind of oil made by infusion. 

 I inquired for some ethereal oils, specially for Cajeputj but it was 



