88 VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 



send to Europe as specimens. An Armenian, Mon. Lathier, who 

 had lived in Pegu for a number of years, and had devoted much 

 atte;itioii to the insects -and the making of this varnish, assured 

 me on his word of houour, that he had often seen these insects 

 building-, specially on the bank of the river which flows to the 

 cajnial Tavoy. According to his version he has seen many very 

 small, unwinged ants run along the ground in thousands, and 

 when they had arrived at the special place they had nodded their 

 heads as if they were pressing something against the wood, 

 whereupon they had come down again. When he contemplated 

 the place where they had been he found a tiny spot. Tbe most 

 peculiar assurance he gave me is that the gum-varnish is quite 

 green in the beginning, and looks like the stalks of garlic. When 

 he took this green gum and rubbed it between his fingers he 

 could press out a red sort of juice ; the varnish itself was very 

 elastic and soft. 



An English captain, who trades yearly on this coast, says 

 that he has not observed this, but he has seen that the inhabitants 

 sprinkled the shrubs with honey in places where they stood very 

 closely together in order to attract these little insects. 



4.— There was a great quantity of Sango Draconis ; it was 

 white and had the appearance of flour. It was said to be pro- 

 duced in this shape by nature. There were some sacks a little 

 torn, and I examined their contents. I found some fruits of the 

 Ca amo Rotang whch were oval, and contained the same kind of 

 flour inside. I examined some others and some broken fruits ; 

 they all contained this flour, but it was of a darker colour in some 

 of them ; at the same time I found some small pieces of Pedi- 

 celli of the Racemo. I had been frequently told that it was taken 

 from the fruits, and here I was convinced of the fact. It also 

 forms an article for trade, and is as red as the Sappan wood, 

 which they use for dying purposes in China. 



5. — We got to-day some tin on board in small square pieces. 

 The tin from Sallangor is considered superior to that of Junk 

 Ceylon, but that in the kingdom of Rhombo is considered to be 

 the best, and is paid with the highest price. There is still an in- 

 ferior quality, that from (missing in M.S.). 



6. — We g'ot some water and provisions on board to-day, and 

 soon after our captain alao arrived, who commanded the anchors 

 to be weighed instantly. We sailed towards the Straits of 



