[ 8 7 1 ] 
unequal parts, which is a character I have not 
obferved in this China one ; nor have I obferved, that 
it is of a remarkable fine red in the autumn, as in- 
deed many of the Sumachs are; whereas h$ gives us 
a very poetical defcription of the ftriking red of 
this wild Varnifh at that feafon. Dr. Kaempfer, in 
the account he gives of his Sitz-dsju. or true Varnifh- 
tree, takes notice of the effedt of its poifonous exha- 
lations : which brings frefh into my memory that 
this China Rhus, when fil'd: it began to extend its 
leaves in your fmall Rove, had fo remarkable a dis- 
agreeable fmell, that I have frequently complained 
to you of getting the head-ach and a ficknefs at my 
ftomach by remaining too long near it ; and after you 
had it removed into your great ftove, where, notwith- 
ftanding that building is very fpacious, and near twen- 
ty feet high, yet, as it grew mod; luxuriantly, one 
could not without pain continue long near it. I 
meafured one of the whole great leaves of this tree 
in the fummer i7f >, and it was above three feet in 
length. 1 fuppofe, as it is a native of Nankin, where 
the winters are cold, it thrives now well with you 
in the open air, as it does in the Phyfic Garden at 
Chelfea ; where it throws out, like yours, a great 
number of fuckers. 
After Dr. Kasmpfer has defcribed the true Japan 
Varnifh-tree, he then tells us, that the Varnifh is 
collected from it near the city of Jaffino, and that it 
is the bed; Varniih in the world; but that it is in fo 
fmall quantities, that there would not be diffident 
'X 7 • /* 
for their own manufaduries, were it not for a bafer 
kind of Varnifh, which is brought to them from 
Siam, and called Nam-Rak. This Siam Varnifh he 
$ S 2 tells 
