178 Descriptions of Malayan Plants. 



parts of Celebes in particular, entertain such dread of it, 

 that they dare not remain long under it^ much less repose 

 beneath its shade ; they say that whoever receives the drop^ 

 pings from it, will have his body swell, and be affected with 

 malignant sores. As, however, it furnishes the so-celebrated 

 varnish, other people boldly repair to this tree, particularly 

 the Chinese and Tonkinese, who employ great precautions 

 in collecting the resin, which is accomplished in the follow- 

 ing manner. A number of Chinese proceed, about evening, 

 to the place where the trees grow, which is always at a dis- 

 tance from the resort of men or animals, each selects a few, 

 and inserts into the trunks two pieces of bamboo, sharpened 

 at their points, in such a manner as to penetrate the bark in 

 a somewhat oblique direction. These remain all night, and 

 are extracted before sun-rise the next morning, the trees 

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

 greater or less quantity according to the richness or poor- 

 ness of the soil, and is obtained only at certain seasons of 

 the year, particularly about the time of flowering. The peo- 

 ple who collect it unite the produce of their labour, and 

 afterwards make an equal 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 hun- 

 dred 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 its trunk 

 lightly, before inserting the bamboos, wishing by this to show 

 that they are not afraid, for they say that timid persons will 

 sooner feel its noxious effects than those who are bold and 

 fearless. 



" The resin is prepared for varnish in the following way :— - 

 To one pound of resin add an equal weight of the oil of 

 Tang-yhu, which is a Chinese tree related to the Boonga 

 Tanjong [Mimusops Elengi], from whose fruit a red trans- 



