24 
GUTTA PERCIIA. 
felled, and few, if any, other than small plants are now to be 
found. The range of its growth, however, appears to be consider¬ 
able ; it being found all up the Malayan Peninsula as far as Penang 
where I have ascertained it to be abundant; although as yet the in- 
■habitants do not seem to be aware of the fast: several of the 
Mercantile houses there, having sent down orders to Singapore for 
supplies of the article, when they have the means of supply close 
at hand. The Tree is also found in Borneo, and I have little 
doubt is to be found in most of the Islands adjacent. 
The localities it particularly likes are the alluvial tracts along 
the foot of hills, where it flourishes luxuriantly, forming, in ma¬ 
ny spots, the principal portion of the jungle, But notwithstand¬ 
ing the indeginous character of the tree, its apparent abundance, 
and wide spread diffusion, the Gutta will soon become a very 
scarce article, if Some more provident means be not adopted in 
its collection than that at present in use by the Malays and Chinese. 
The mode in which the natives obtain the Gutta is by cutting 
down the trees of full growth and ringing the bark at distances of 
about 12 to IS inches apart, and placing a cocoanut shell, spathe 
of a Palm, or such l&e receptacle, under the fallen trunk to re¬ 
ceive the milky sap that immediately exudes upon every fresh inci¬ 
sion. This sap is collected in bamboos, taken to their houses, and 
boiled in order to drive off the watery particles and inspissate it to 
the consistence it finally assumes. Although the process of boiling 
appears necessary when the Gutta is collected in large quantity, if a 
tree be freshly wounded, a small quantity allowed to exude, and it 
be collected and moulded in the hand, it will consolidate perfectly 
in a few minutes and have all the appearance of the prepared ar¬ 
ticle. 
When it is quite pure the color is of a greyish white, but as 
brought to market it is more ordinarily found of a reddish hue, aris¬ 
ing from chips of bark that fall into the sap in the act of making the 
incisions, and which yield their color to it. Besides these accidental 
chips there is a great deal of intentional adulteration by sawdust 
and other materials. Some specimens I have lately seen brought 
to market, could not have contained much less than -|th of im¬ 
purities ; and even in the purest specimens l could obtain for 
surgical purposes, one pound ol the substance yielded, on being 
