238 



Remarks on the Gamboge Tree of Ceylon, 



[July 



called Sialagmiti's cambogioides,— and I shall afterwards state what the 

 tree really is. 



In her first letter, dated Colombo, 1st July, 1833, Mrs. Walker says ? 

 " I have set about the Stalagmitis cambogioides, which is at present in 

 fruit, and have drawn a branch, with a section of the fruit. I have 

 likewise procured some Gamboge from the tree ; it is brilliant and ex- 

 cellent. It is obtained from two other trees here, the Garcinia Cam- 

 bogia and an unknown tree, which Col. Walker thinks is a Garcinia 

 likewise. Specimens from both I shall send you, and drawings* 

 also. The fruit of G. CamBogia is much used by the natives in their 

 curries; and I am told, when quite ripe, is a very fine fruit, as large as 

 the Mangosteen, which it resembles in form. The native name is Gora« 

 ha. The fruit of Stalagmitis cambogioides is much smaller, very 

 sweet when ripe, and by no means disagreeable in flavour. It is call- 

 ed here Kana (or eatable) Goraka. I have not yet ascertained all the 

 uses made here of Gamboge, but it is certainly employed as a pigment 

 by the native artists. Our servants say it is also used by native prac- 

 titioners in medicine, and sometimes as a plaster, when first taken from 

 the tree. It does not appear to exude like a gum, but on an incision be- 

 ing made, it issues freely through the pores of the bark, as I saw yes- 

 terday on cutting both the Stalagmitis cambogioides and Garcinia 

 Cambogia. I have been trying it as a paint to-day, and find it as good 

 as any I ever used.f We have no intercourse whatever with Siam, and 

 I fear I can procure you no information from thence. I should think, 

 from the specimen I have already got, that the matter which exudes 

 from the Stalagmitis cambogioides, when an incision is made in the 

 bark, is undoubtedly pure Gamboge. I have used it in colouring some 

 of my flowers : it is quite liquid when it issues from, the pores of the 

 tree, but soon hardens when exposed to the air. I have not tried the 

 stuff from the Garcinias, but it tastes and smells exactly like Gam- 

 boge." 



Mrs. W T alker's next letter is dated Aug. 20, 1834:— she says, " Your 

 letter of February 1833, in which you first mention the subject of 

 Gamboge, I received in June of the same year, and immediately in- 

 quired about the plant, which I found to be in fruit. In that state I 

 drew it to the best of my abilities, but put off sending it to you till I 

 had an opportunity of forwarding also, a representation of the flower, 

 which, as many plants here blossom twice in the year, I hoped I might 



* I have received excellent drawings of Garcinia Camhogia (Willd.), of Garcinia Cam* 

 bogia, ft- (Moon), and of the unknown plant alluded to, together with specimens of the 

 two first, but none of the last, which seemSia species of Carallia. R. G. 



+ In a note on the back of the drawing, Mrs. Walker says, " It issues from an incision 

 in a thickish liquid state, and of a light yellow colour, but soon hardens when exposed to 

 the air, and becomes of much deeper hue, and is perfectly fit for use in water-colour 

 drawings, as much so as any I ever purchased, which was prepared and sold in the Lon- 

 don colour-shops." 



