404 JOURNAL R. A. s. (ceylon). [Vol. III. 



his jacket and went to Hospital, a pustular eruption not 

 unlike that produced by Tartar Emetic ointment having 

 broken out in the places where the juice had touched the 

 skin. He rapidly recovered, however, by the application 

 of warm fomentations and olive oil. 



Now this corrosive property is the same as that which 

 is described by Eumphius as belonging to the Varnish tree 

 of Sumatra and the Eastern Isles. He says : 



" The exhalations of this tree are considered noxious, and the peo- 

 ple of Macassar and other parts of Celebes in particular, entertain 

 Such a dread of it, that they dare not remain long, much less re- 

 pose, under its shade. They say, that whoever receives the 

 droppings from it will have his body swelled, and be afflicted 

 with malignant sores. As, however, it furnishes the celebrated 

 varnish, other people boldly repair to this tree, particularly 

 the Chinese and the Tonquinese, who employ great precaution in 

 collecting the resin, which is accomplished in the following manner. 

 A number of Chinese proceed about evening to the place where the 

 trees grow, which is always at a distance from the resort of man or 

 animals ; each selects a few, and inserts into the trunk two pieces 

 of bamboo, sharpened at their points in such a manner as to pene- 

 trate the bark in a somewhat oblique direction- These remain all 

 night, and are extracted before sun-rise the next morning, the tree 

 yielding no juice during the day. The resin is found in greater or 

 less quantity, according to the richness or poorness of the soil, and 

 is obtained only at certain seasons of the year, particularly about 

 the 1 time of flowering. The people who collect it unite the fruit of 

 theii labor, and afterwards make a complete division of the whole, 

 on which account this resin maintains a high price, a single pikul 

 (containing a hundred catties) selling in those provinces of China 

 which do not possess this tree, for two or three hundred dollars ; 

 in Tonkin and Camboja, however, it may be had for thirty, fifty, or 

 sixty dollars. It is a custom among the Chinese when they approach 

 this tree, first to rub the trunk lightly, before inserting the bamboo, 

 wishing by this to shew that they are not afraid, for they say, that 

 timid persons will sooner feel its noxious effects than those who are 

 bold and fearless." 



This tree is found growing both in low-lands and high- 

 lands. In and around the Cinnamon Gardens ; at Awisa- 



