laS THE ISLAND OF JAVA. 
visit the coral trees, when they push forth their large clusters 
of scarlet flowers, in tlie same manner as the little paroquets 
frequent the same species of tree in Southern Africa. The 
Lyriodendriim Tidipiferum, the Magnolia, the Melia, and 
Bignonia, are all of them shewy and elegant trees. 
The trees, the shrubs, and the herbaceous plants, that are 
cultivated in the gardens of Batavia for their beauty or their 
fragrance, are very numerous. Among them we observed 
the Gardenia Florida, and another species called Catjepering, 
the Caryophjllum or clove, the Laurus Cinnamoma or cinnamon 
tree, the Myristica or nutmeg, the A'z/cfaw^/iesor Arabian jasmine, 
ihePoliaiithes or tuberose,which is here called iheSoondalMallam, 
the Wanton of the night ; the Plumeria, which is usually planted 
near the graves, theOcymum Basilicum,the Seree or lemon grass, 
which is used as an ingredient in the favourite dish of Currie. 
Among the aromatic plants those held in most esteem are the 
three species of pepper, the common black pepper, the betel, 
and the Seriboo or long pepper, which is used by the several 
natives either alone or with the betel leaf ; the different species 
of Capsicum, the common ginger, and that species pi-oduc- 
ino; what the Dutch call Cardomiims, which are the silicles 
or pods of the Amomum Compactum. These seeds are eaten 
by the ladies to sweeten the breath, and to remove any 
offensive smell that might remain after the daily use of garlic 
and onions, which always enter into the standing dish of 
Currie. Every lady carries about with her a box of cardo- 
mums, Avliich she presents to her friends or strangers in the 
same manner as the snufi-box is presented in Europe. 
7 
