(86 3 ) 
Anfrvers 
To fome of the Queries, which -mere- recommended by ifiVR. Moray to Sir 
Phil. Vematti, Pre ft dent ?n Java Major , were left un~anf\\cred of thofe 
that are found in the Hiftory of the R. Society, p. i 58, &c. 
t t ^*|""*He greateft length of time, tine Pearl-divers in thtfe parts can hold 
JL under water,is about a quarter of an ho- r ; and by no other means 
butCuftorne: For Pearl-diving laiteth not above Six weeks,?nd the Divers 
itay a great while longer under water at the end of the Seafon, then at the 
beginning. Here ac Batavia is an expert Diver y who draws wages; for 
nothing elfe but for diving for Anchors, Guns, &c. loft in the Ro^d. I 
have feen him feveral times go down, holding my breath as long as I could, 
but he ffcay'd ten times as long under water, as I could hold my breath. But 
he will not go down.unlefs you give hirn a whole Pint of Strong-water. 
2. The Gyle drawn out of the Roots of Cwamon-trees, and refembling 
Camphir, is thence extracted, the Roots being dried, bruis'd, and fteep'd 
in water, and then drawn over by an Alembec. 
\; The Lignum Aloes is the part of a Living Tree, but commonly found,, 
when 'tis wither'd; The Tree it felf is of a white foft wood, giving a milky 
juice, which is fo venemous withal, that if in cutting the Tree, any of the 
milk light in your eye, you grow blind; if on any other part of the Body, 
it becomes fcabby, and noyibmly fore. The Lignum Aloes , or Calambac, 
is found within the White- wood, but not every where. When the Tree 
decays, the White-wood foon withers, and grows woim-eaten and the 
Milk fo dries up, that you may eafily rub it afunder with your hand. The 
beft is found in the rnidft of the Tree, nouriflrd by the Heart-root, which 
goes ftr eight down into the ground. 
4. The Wood, (linking like humane Excrement, grows thus naturally in 
the Ifles of Sole r and Timor thereabouts. 
5. There are indeed fuch Serpents in thefe parts,which have an Head on 
each end of their Body, called Capra capella. They are efteeta d Sacred by 
thefe people, and fortunate to thofe in whofe houfe and lands they arc 
found; but pernicious to whomfoever doth them harm. I would have fenc 
one, but could get no man that would kill them. 
Thefe Anfwers were accompanied with divers Curiofities,fent over by the 
fame. Generous Perfon for the Repofoory of the R. Society ; among which 
were the Pidures of the true Musk^Dear, and of divers Aroraaticai, and 
other Eafi- Indian Vegetables, and particularly of the Nutmeg called Thee- 
*ving\ becaufe that being put amoBg a whole room full of good Nutmeg^ 
though it be but one,it will corrupt them all? Befides a very fragrant Oyle, 
drawn out of the bark of a Tree ( called Lawang :) and fome of the Blood 
of a Fifti, caird Bcdille, efteem'd very excellent againft Fluxes of Blood. 
Together with which fhould have come a fort of Beans growing on the 
Coaft of Coremandel, having this quality, that the infide of an Earthen 
Veffel being rubb'd therewith, the moft muddy water powred into it, will 
precipitate all its muddinefs ; but this was loft by the way. 'Mean time care 
is taken to procure fome others of that kind,to make the Experiment here. 
E e e e c a ^ 
