Appendix : — Proceedings of 



This Comet appears to be the same as that observed in 

 Europe in August last, and described in the Illustrated News 

 by Mr. Hind and others. 



The following interesting contributions presented to the 

 Society by W. C. Ondaatje, Esq. of Badulla, were next laid 

 before the Meeting. 



1. 2lbs. of Gum Kino, the produce of the Pterocarpus 

 Marsupium, Roxb., which grows abundantly at Badulla and its 

 neighbourhood. 



With reference to this important substance, the Secretary 

 remarked, that in appearance and in properties it resembled 

 the Kino of commerce which is so largely used in Medicine 

 and the Arts, and would no doubt be as readily purchased in 

 the markets of Europe as that exported from India, if it could 

 be produced in any quantity ; up to the present date only 

 9lbs. have been sent to the Society, all which has been for- 

 warded to Messrs. Dawson & Co. for transmission to England 

 to ascertain its market value. The reason why the quantity 

 is so small is explained in the following extract from Mr. 

 Ondaatje's letter of the 25th November, 1853. 



Regarding the Gum Kino, I regret to say that I have 'hitherto been 

 baffled in my attempts to secure the services of a native Singhalese, who 

 would undertake to collect a cwt. of the Gum. The people are very 

 averse to the performance of any work which is novel to them in character, 

 and which requires any degree of energetic perseverance, or the real 

 object of which they do not quite comprehend. 



Under these circumstances, I would suggest to you to apply to Govern- 

 ment to instruct the Government Agent to direct each Headman to 

 collect quantities of the Gum fron the trees in the villages under his 

 charge. If the fluid gum is sent to me I will have it properly dried and 

 sent to the Society. The trees are just now in blossom; and as at this 

 time the gum flows in greater abundance, it would be a pity to let this 

 year pass over without making an effort to collect at least two cwts.- 



I will send all the Gum I have hitherto collected, which is only 9 ihs* 



Yours, &c, 



W. C. Ondaatje- 



