24 
THE GAMBOGE TREE OF CEYLON. 
with a large pot or jar of Gamboge, and promised to send us 
more, which promise he faithfully kept, and I shall forward 
specimens to you of his present by the first opportunity. The 
Garcinia Cambogia, of which I transmit you a representa- 
tion, is one of the most common trees in this neighborhood, 
attaining a large size, and is very handsome, with remarkable 
thick and dark foliage. A quantity of resinous juice proceeds 
from its bark, in the same manner that Gamboge does from 
the Stalagmitis; but it never seems to harden thoroughly, 
and no use is made of it by the natives. The outer husk of 
the fruit, however, is a favorite ingredient in their curries. 
They prepare it by taking out the pulp and seeds, breaking it 
to pieces, and putting it in a heap, which is covered for two 
or three days till it becomes soft. It is then smoked by burn- 
ing cocoa-nut shells below the grating on which it is spread. 
This operation is continued for many days, when it is tied up 
tight in a bag, and kept for use by being hung, I cannot say in 
the chimney, for chimneys they have none, — but where it is un- 
der the influence of the smoke from their fires when cooking. 
They also use it in pickling or preserving, along with salt, a 
kind of small fish, which cured in this way will keep for six 
or seven months. The flower of No. 2, which I suppose is 
also a Garcinia, differs much from No. 1 , but the fruit ap- 
pears almost the same, and is used by the natives in the same 
way. They are indiscriminately called Goraka by the Sing- 
halese, but are distinguished by their color."* 
In a subsequent letter, dated January 2, 1835, Mrs. Walker 
says, "I am convinced Stalagmitis produces true Gamboge 
Dr. Pitcairn is of the same opinion, and desires me to tell you 
that he has administered it in the same way as it is used medi- 
cinally at home, and found its effects precisely the same." 
I shall now state what the plant seems to be which is called 
* No. 1. I believe this to be Garcinia Cambogia, Willd., which is G. 
qffmis of Wight and Armott, certainly not of Wallich. No. 2 is probably 
a var. of G. Kydia of Roxb., perhaps his G. purpurea ; but as Roxb. gives 
uo description of G. purpurea, the point cannot be determined. It is, no 
doubt, the G . Cambogia 0., or Red Garcinia, of Moon's Catalogue. R. G. 
