178 VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO 8IAM AND MALACCA 



there were two vehicles standing- ready to take them. A pigeon 

 of the size of a chicken was shot. It was dark green on the back, 

 and its stomach was whitish-gTeen, the feet and bill were ash- 

 coloiued. 



I saw the Graweii arguens of Rumph in a wilderness, but 

 it was almost dry ; also some plants without leaves or blossoms, 

 of which I only obtained some seed. The trees were everywhere 

 filled with g-reen pigeons and other birds, specially with the Gra- 

 cula calva and crisfatel/a, which were feasting on the nectar of 

 the Erythrina cora'lodendron. 



i28. — We prepared everything for our departure to day, but 

 to my gieat pleasure we stayed on. I had sent a fellow for the 

 blossoms of the Camboc/ia; I paid him in the hope that he would 

 keep his promise, and was delighted that the time would be long 

 enough to await his return. I went to another part of the wood, 

 where I found a peculiar Loranihus growing on a small tree ; I 

 took several specimens w^th me. I also saw a Dracena in 

 blossom, but it had no fruit. To-day I was not as lucky as yes- 

 terday in hitting upon a very rich part of the country, as near the 

 mountains everything w^as burnt. I found many places where 

 the wild elephaiils have their track to the water. I went back 

 and paid a visit to the Koman Catholic priest, Jacobo Philippo de 

 St. Corol, in order to make some inquiries regarding the countrj^ 

 He had really been born in Macao, of ('ochin-Chinese parents, 

 had acquired his theology in Manila, and had been sent to Co- 

 chin-China. In the many civil wars and revolts of the country 

 he had lost everything. He was taken prisoner and expected 

 his death at every moment; afterwards he had an opportunity of 

 escape and was for the time set over the congregation here, 

 which consisted of about 250 Christians. My curiosity regarding 

 the products of this country directed my questions. I was 

 pleased to learn that there are two different kinds of Cardomum 

 here, one of them being' round and smooth and the other more 

 oblong and overgrown with fibre ; the former kind grew a little 

 more inland, the latter was very common in all the woods of the 

 country. The Gummi Gutta was much collected by the people of 

 the country. The tree was very common ; it had a high stem 

 and oblong leaves. The red sandal-wood was frequent in these 

 mountains ; in the house ot a Chinese I saw a large beam of it 

 being split. The yellow sandal-wood grew frequently iu the vai- 



