visit the coral trees, when they push forth their large clusters
of scarlet flowers, in the same manner as the little paroquets
frequent the same species of tree in Southern Africa. The
Lyriodendrum Tulipiferum, the Magnolia, the Mehia, and
Bi gnonia, are all of them shewy and elegant trees.
The trees, the shrubs, and the herbaceous plants,, that are
cultivated in the gardens of Batavia for their beauty or their
fragrance, are very numerous. Among them we observed
the Gardenia Florida, and another species called Catjepering,
the Caryophyllum or clove, the Lrnrus Cinnamoma or cinnamon
tree, the Myristica or nutmeg, th eNyctanthes or Arabian jasmine,
thePolianthes or tuberose,which is here called th eSoondalMallam,
the Wanton o f the night; the Plumeria, which is usually planted
near the graves, the Ocymtim Basilicum, the Seree or lemon grass,
which is used as an ingredient in the favourite dish of Currie.
Among the aromatic plants those held in most esteem are the
three species of pepper, the common black pepper, the betel,
and the Seriboo or long pepper, which is used by the several
natives either alone or with the betel leaf; the different species
of Capsicum, the common ginger, and tbat. species producing
what the Dutch call Cardomums, which are the silicles
or pods of the Arnomum Compactum. These seeds are eaten
by the ladies to sweeten the breath, and to remove any
offensive smell that might remain after the daily use of garlic
and onions, which always enter into the standing dish of
Currie. Every lady carries about with her a box of cardomums,
which she presents to her friends or strangers in the
same manner as the snuff-box is presented in Europe.
7
Among the plants which were considered to be rare and
curious we saw, in one of the gentlemen’s gardens, the
Elastic Gum tree, the Convolvulus Jalappa, the Styrax
Liquida, the Bread Fruit, and the Areca Oleracea or mountain
cabbage tree of the West Indies. But the most extraordinary
plant that occurred, and which is said to be very
common in most of the Eastern islands, was the Nepenthes
Distillatoria or pitcher plant. There is not, perhaps, amono-
the numerous examples that occur of the provident economy
of nature, in the vegetable part of the creation, a more remarkable
instance of contrivance adapted to circumstances,
of means suited to the end, than what is evidently displayed
in this wonderful plant. Being the inhabitant of a tropical
climate, and found on the most stoney and arid situations,
nature has furnished it with the means of an ample supply of
moisture,, without which it would have withered and perished.
To the footstalk of each leaf, and near the base, is. attached
a small bag,, shaped like a pitcher, of the same consistence
and colour of the leaf in the early stage of its growth, but
changing with age to a reddish purple; it is girt round with
an oblique band or hoop, and covered with a lid neatly
fitted, and moveable on a kind of hinge or strong fibre which,
passing over the handle, connects the vessel with the leaf.
By the contraction of this fibre the lid is drawn open whenever
the weather is showery, or dews fall, which would appear
to be just the contrary of what usually happens in nature,.
though the contraction probably is occasioned by the
hot and dry atmosphere, and the expansion of the fibre does
not take place till the moisture has fallen and saturated the
pitcher. When this is the case the cover falls down, and it