FOURTH BULLETIN OF 
[ 1846 . 
to be visited, precludes the possibility of obtaining much information of the country 
or its productions, especially when the language is not understood. 
In Borneo I could not remain three hours on shore, but as the Rajah of that 
city had disposed of the exclusive right of obtaining coal to the English, it could 
only have been of interest to science to have remained there longer. 
In China, the restrictive laws imposed upon foreigners prevented me from visiting 
the country or even all parts of the city. I could therefore only employ a Chinese 
to go in the country and obtain such objects as might be of interest. In this man¬ 
ner I obtained many seeds, which will be sent to many parts of the United States, 
and I hope will be of advantage to the agricultural interests of our country. Under 
such disadvantages to my vocation, I could only make inquiries into the manufac¬ 
tures, exports and imports, their prices, &c. 
Fiorn the long indisposition with which I was afflicted from that scourge of the 
east, (Asiatic dysentery,) many of the specimens I had collected were destroyed by 
the mice and cockroaches, with which the vessel was much infested; and many 
of the prepared plants were destroyed from mould, caused by the dampness of the 
climate ; but these accidents are always met with on board vessels, where it is im¬ 
possible to have the means of preservation that may be resorted to on shore. 
J. C. REINHARDT, Naturalist . 
To Captain John Percival, 
Commanding U. S . Frigate Constitution. 
October , 1844.—The landscape in the vicinity of St. Augustin Bay, Mada¬ 
gascar, has nothing in appearance tropical, but resembles more, at this season of 
the year, the opening of spring in a temperate climate. This is caused by the long 
drought which occurs in the dry season, when the trees and shrubs on the moun¬ 
tains, where the soil is shallow, shed their leaves, while those which grow along 
the river bottom remain verdant throughout the year. The same cause for the 
falling of leaves, I have observed in temperate climates, where there was but a 
slight soil on the mountains, when after a drought the leaves fall from the trees, 
long before the frost nipped those that grew in a more favorable situation and 
supplied with more moisture. 
There is an entire absence of palm-trees here, which gives the peculiar tropical 
character to a country, and renders it apparent. 
The most conspicuous tree to the view here, growing along the river and low 
grounds is the tamarind, which grows very abundantly on the western coast, but 
is said not to be found on the eastern. It is, perhaps, the most important of all 
the trees found here, to the inhabitants, as they make a large use of the fruit as 
food. It is possessed of important anti-scorbutic properties, allays thirst, is nutri¬ 
tive, refrigerant, and in full doses laxative. It is well adapted for febrile and in¬ 
flammatory cases in general. In the former it is often given with the double pur¬ 
pose of acting as a refrigerant and operating gently on the bowels. An infusion 
of tamarinds forms a very cooling and pleasant drink, as does also tamarind 
whey. 
The fruit has been analyzed by Vanquelin, and found to contain citric, tartaric, 
and malic acids, with bitartrate of potash, sugar, gum, and vegetable jelly. 
There are two varieties, which are considered by Roxburgh and Decandolleto be 
distinct species. The only difference between them is in the pod. This is the 
species called Tamarindus Indicus by Decandolle, and has the legume elongated, 
six or more times longer than broad, and six to twelve seeded, whilst the West 
Indian variety has the legume abbreviated, scarcely three times longer than broad, 
and one to four seeded. 
This tree is generally found along the banks of rivers or moist places, where 
alone it naturally grows. While on the mountains at St. Augustin Bay I was 
very much oppressed with thirst, when observing a tamarind tree growing in a 
ravine, with a species of scirpus, I took the hint that there might be water near, or 
these two members of the vegetable kingdom would not have been found there. 
After a search under the dried leaves near the base of the tree I found a small 
quantity of water contained in a rock, and from appearance, indicated that there 
