22 ON THE GAMBOGE TREE OF CEYLON. 
through the pores of the bark, as I saw yesterday on cutting 
both the Stalagmitis cambogioides and Garcinia Cambogia. 
I have been trying it as a paint to-day, and find it as good as 
any I ever used.* We have no intercourse whatever with 
. Siam, and I fear I can procure you no information from thence. 
r I should think, from the specimen I have already got, that the 
matter which exudes fromthe Stalagmitis cambogioides, when 
an incision is made in the bark, is undoubtedly pure Gam- 
boge. I have used it in coloring some of my flowers : it is 
quite liquid when it issues fromthe pores of the tree, but soon 
hardens when exposed to the air. I have not tried the stuff 
from the Garcinias, but it tastes and smells exactly like Gam- 
boge." 
Mrs. Walker's next letter is dated Aug. 20, 1834 : — She says, 
"Your letter of February, 1333, in which you first mention the 
subject of Gamboge, I received in June of the same year, and 
immediately inquired about the plant, which I found to be in 
fruit. In that state I drew it to the best of my abilities, but 
put off sending it to you till I had an opportunity of forward- 
ing also a representation of the flower, which, as many plants 
here blossom twice in the year, 1 hoped I might not have long 
to wait for. However, I was mistaken in this ; the tree did 
not blossom till March, 1834. I drew it then, but have not 
since been able to send it home, not a single ship having sailed 
from hence to England during that long interval ; and, I fear, 
after all, that you will consider my drawing incomplete, as it 
is the only barren flower I have had the means of represent- 
ing. So at least it seems to me, and I got quantities of the 
blossoms, and examined a great number, and found them all 
the same. I shall send you specimens for your own examin- 
ation ; but I am sorry to say, they look very shabby and poor. 
The flower, however, in its best state, is insignificant, and 
* In a note on the back of the drawing-, Mrs. Walker says, " It issues 
from an incision in a thickish liquid state, and of a light yellow color, but 
soon hardens when exposed to the air, and becomes of a much deeper hue, 
and is perfectly fit for use in water-color drawings, as much so as any I 
ever purchased, which was prepared and sold in the London color-shops." 
