C o ix .
B e r m a n d i a .
Ph y lan th us .
M o r u S.
both fpecies, and quantities of feeds, all of which were de-
ftroyed by a violent ftorm he met with, no farther off his port
than the coaft of Flanders *.
Lacryma, Rumph. Amboin. v. tab. 75» refembles very much a
fugar cane. The Dutch have found out its excellency in chicken
broth: fo it is introduced to all the good tables of Amboina.
Sonnerat, ii. tab. 85. The Indians call it Arbor Regia, as
always certain,plants are found under its lhade or protedtion:
it is alfo full of ants, which bite with great iharpnefs : it bears
a fmall cluttered berry. This tree is ufeful in medicine, yet is
faid to' contain a fatal poifon. It has its bane and antidote, and
is reported to be peculiarly efficacious againft the poifon o f the
MacaJJar arrows. I am reminded by this double quality (often
incident in Indian plants) of the good Friar"s fpeech in Romeo.
and 'Juliet:—•
Within the infant rind o f this fmall flower
Poifon hath refidence, and medicine power ;
For this being fmelt with that part, cheers’ each part;
Being tatted, flays all fenfes with the heart.
Niruri, vi. tab. 17, is a fmall plant, called both HgrbaMaro-
ris, and Amoris. When the Indians fend a branch of it to any
friend, it fignifies they are oppreffed with grief; When it bears
the other name, it is for its being ufed as a philtre by the fair,
to conciliate the affedtions of their lovers.
Indica, vii. tab. 5, is a fpecies of mulberry-tree, with black
fruit, as large as a walnut. The Chinefe, who vifil Amboina, fay
it is the tree which nouriihes the filk-worms.
* Thunberg’s Travels, iv. p. 282.
Balanghas,
''Ralanghas, Syjl. PI. iv. 195, Cavalam, Rheede, i. tab. ? 49. Rati Stmcuha.
H ijl.ii. 1754 Clompanus minor, Rumpb. iii.169, tab.107.
F o e t i d a , Sy/l. PI. iv. 198, Karil, Rheede, iv. tab. 36, Raii tlifl.
-ii. 1564, Clompanus major, Rumpb. iii.‘ 168, tab. 107, ad lit. A.
This is one of the vaft trees o f India. Sonnerat, ii. 234, tab. 132,
gives a good figure of it and its flowers. This and the above
are remarkable for the excefiive foetid fmell o f both the wood
and flowers, which refemble the fcent o f human ordure. Lin-
neeus therefore gives the genus the name of Sterculia, and the
trivial of foetida, and the tree itfelf, Stinckbaum-, and Sonnerat,
the plainer title of Bois de Merde.
T he Croton Lacciferum grows in abundance in the fand-pits C r o to h .
near Columbo and other places, on which the Gum Lac is found
in great plenty. It is fometimes ufed for lacquering, after being
diffolved in fpirits o f wine*.
T he Pandanus OdorattJJimus, Linn. Suppl. PI. p. 424, Rutnph. Pandak*«.
iv. p. 139, tab. 74. Bromelia, See. FI. Zeyl. p. 54, is a native o f
this ifland, and alfo of Egypt +. it is the moft fragrant o f
flowers, and its fcent fo diffufive, that a fingle fpike will perfume
a whole chamber. It has the appearance o f the Ananas, or
pine apple. There are many varieties o f it in Rumphius: The
finett he diftinguiihes by the name of Venus. ■ It is alfo known
■by the name of the Wild Pine. The Portuguefe call it Ananas
Brava. The fruit is red, and of the fize o f a melon. The
juice is ufed medicinally in the Ery/ipelas, 8tc. 8cc.
* Thunberg’s Travels, lr. 25». f Forflchal, PI. Eg/pt. p. i 7a.
V ol. I. ji 11 Sattva-y