in one cabin. Mr. Farquhar endeavoured to reach the deck from the quarter gallery, but observing a blow directed against his head, he dropped into the water, swam to the rudder, and held on till morning. At day-break the Chinese called all who were in the water to return to the ship, which they did, but on Mr. Farquhar attemping to regain the deck, he was struck by a cutlass on the hands, and compelled to let go his hold, he again swam to the rudder, and held on for some hours. A second time he tried to reach the deck, and succeeded

The Chinese then got the ship under weigh, and managed to work her themselves, with the assistance of some of the crew, who were compelled to labour. After sailing twenty days, in various directions (the Chinese not knowing where to proceed), about nine in the morning of January 23rd the ship grounded on a reef, distant about nine miles from Pulo Laut, North Natunas. The Chinese, as many as could, including the passengers, took to the boats, and steered for Pulo Laut, which place they reached at about sunset, and landed. When about half-way to the island, the ship went down, head foremost, carrying down with her some of the crew and Chinese, for whom there was no room in the boats. On making the island, four Malays (the only residents in the place) met them; the Chinese endeavoured to prevent the passengers (who spoke Malayu) holding conversation with the Malays. The latter succeeded in securing the whole of the passengers and the remainder of the crew, and conveyed them to their houses, from whence the Malays returned to the beach, to capture the convicts, but succeeded in getting only seventeen, the others having escaped in the ship's boats.

The Malays managed to communicate with the Orang Kya of Pulo Bungoran, who proceeded himself before day-break, to Pulo Laut. From thence he conveyed the passengers and others to Bungoran. The Orang Kya then went in search of the other Chinese who escaped, but the Malays did not succeed in falling in with them. The Orang Kya sent directions to the heads of the numerous islands forming the North Natuna group, to search for and secure the Chinese who escaped, and to forward them to Bungoran. Up to the date of the party leaving the latter place, nothing had been heard of the remaining convicts or the boats.

Lieutenant Seymour received two cuts over the knee, and was thrown overboard; he fortunately succeeded in getting hold of a rope and held on for some hours. From the statements of eye-witnesses it will be seen that the convicts possessed themselves of the arm-chest, which unhappily was left open under the poop ladder. The Chinese rigged themselves out in the captain's and mate's clothes, the better to disguise themselves if seen from another vessel.

The aecount of the capture of these convicts we are obliged to reserve for our next. But those brought over in the Malay prows have been examined at the police office, and committed for piracy and murder, They appear reckless as to their fate; one of the number is the interpreter referred to above. The Portuguese is reported to have behaved well; he not only cooked for the passengers but at Pulo Laut he acted as sentry over the Chinese. The convicts will not be tried until the sessions next month: in the meantime the government has acted with great liberality towards the Orang Kya or Rajah of the North Natunas. The Straits executive has resolved to present the Orang Kya with a gold mounted kris, a silver scree box, and 500 Spanish dollars, as a token of remembrance for the great service rendered to British subjects thrown upon his shores. Nothing more has been heard respecting the 46 Chinese convicts that escaped in the long and quarter boats belonging to the ship; it is thought probable that they would endeavour to reach the Anambas or South Natunas: in either case they would be delivered up to the English. The

Hon Company's steaner Hooghly, and her Majesty's sloop. Ring dove, are about to proceed to the Natunas and Anambas in search of the escaped pirates.

GUTTA PERCHA - By Thomas Orley. Esq., A. B., Senior Surgeon of Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore, and Malacca.

ALTHOUGH the trees yielding this substance abound in our indigenous forests, it is only four years since it was discovered by Europeans. The first notice taken of it appears to have been by Dr. W. Montgomerie in a letter to the Bengal Medical Board in the beginning of 1843, wherein he commends the substance as likely to prove useful for some surgical purposes, and supposes it to belong to the fig tribe. In April 1843 the substance was taken to Europe by Dr. D'Almeida who presented it to the Royal Society of Arts of London but it did not at first attract much attention, as the Society simply acknowledged the receipt of the gift; whereas shortly after they thought proper to award a gold medal to Dr. W. Montgomerie for a similar service. Now, as the discovery of both these gentlemen rested pretty much upon the same foundation:-the accidental falling in with it in the hands of some Malays who had found out its greatest peculiarity,—and, availing themselves thereof, manufactured it into whips which were brought into town for sale,— there does not appear any plausible reason for the passing over the first and rewarding the second. Both gentlemen are highly to be commended for endeavouring to introduce to public notice, a substance which has proved so useful and interesting. The Gutta Percha having of late attracted much attention, and as yet but little being known or published about it, I would now propose to supply, to the best of my ability, this desideratum, and give a description of the tree, its product and uses, so far as it has been made available for domestic and other purposes, in the place of its origin.

The Gutta Percha Tree, or Gutta Túban as it ought more properly to be called, the Percha producing a spurious article,-belongs to the Natural family Sapoteæ, but differs so much from all described Genera, having alliance with both, Achras and Bassia, but differing in some essentials from both, that I am disposed to think it is entitled to rank as a new genus. I shall therefore endeavour to give its general character, leaving the honour of naming it to some more competent Botanist, especially as I have not quite satisfied myself regarding the stamens from want of specimens for obser

vations.

The Tree is of large size, from 60 to 70 feet in height, and from 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Its general appearance resembles the Genus Durio, or well known Deorian, so much so as to strike the most superficial observer. The under surface of the leaf, however, is of a more reddish and decided brown than in the Durio, and the shape is somewhat different.*

Every exertion of myself and several others having failed in procuring a specimen of the fruit of the Gutta, I regret being compelled to omit the description of it in the present instance, but hope to rectify this omission in some future number of this journal. It is quite extraordinary how difficult

* The flowers are axilary, from 1 to 3 in the axils, supported on short curved pedicles, and numerous along the extremities of the branches.

Calyx, inferior, persistent, coriaceous, of a brown color, divided into six sepals which are arranged in double series.

Corolla, monopetalous hypogenous, divided like the calyx into six acuminate segments.

Stamens, inserted into throat of the corolla, in a single series, variable in number, but, to the best of my observation, the normal number is twelve, most

it is to obtain specimens of either the flower or fruit of this tree, and this is probably the reason of its not having been earlier recognized and described by some of the many Botanists who have visited these parts.

Only a short time ago the Túban Tree was tolerably abundant on the Island of Singapore, but already all the large timber has been felled, and few, if any, other than small plants are now to be found. The range of its growth, however, appears to be considerable; it being found all up the Malayan Peninsula as far as Penang, where I have ascertained it to be abundant; although as yet the inhabitants do not seem to be aware of the fact: several of the Mercantile houses there, having sent down orders to Singapore for supplies of the article, when they have the neans of supply close at hand. The tree is also found in Borneo, and I have little doubt is to be found in most of the islands adjacent.

The localities it particularly likes are the alluvial tracts along the foot of hills, where it flourishes luxuriantly, forming, in many spots, the principal portion of the jungle. But notwithstanding the indigenous character of the tree, its apparent abundance, and wide spread diffusion, the Gutta will soon become a very scarce article, if some more provident means be not adopted in its collection than that at present in use by the Malays and Chinese.

The mode in which the natives obtain the Gutta is by cutting down the trees of full growth, and ringing the bark at distances of about 12 to 18 inches apart, and placing a cocoa-nut shell, spathe of a palm, or such like receptacle, under the fallen trunk to receive the milky sap that immediately exudes upon every fresh incision. The sap is collected in bamboos, taken to their houses, and boiled in order to drive off the watery particles and inspissate it to the consistence it finally assumes. Although the process of boiling appears necessary when the Gutta is collected in large quantity; if a tree be freshly wounded, a small quantity allowed to exude, and it be collected and moulded in the hand, it will consolidate perfectly in a few minutes and have all the appearance of the prepared article.

When it is quite pure the colour is of a greyish white, but as brought to market it is more ordinarily found of a reddish hue, arising from chips of bark that fall into the sap in the act of making the incisions, and which yield their colour to it. Besides these accidental chips there is a great deal of intentional adulteration by sawdust and other materials. Some specimens I have lately seen brought to market, could not have contained much less than th of impurities; and even in the purest specimens I could obtain for surgical purposes, one pound of the substance yielded, on being cleaned, one ounce of impurities. Fortunately it is neither difficult to detect or clean the Gutta of foreign matter; it being only necessary to boil it in water, until well softened, roll out the substance into thin sheets, and then pick out all impu. rities, which is easily done as the Gutta does not adhere to any thing, and all foreign matter is merely entangled in its fibres, not incorporated in its substance. The quantity of solid Gutta obtained from each tree varies from 5 to 20 catties, so that, taking the average at 10 catties which is a tolerably

generally all fertile, anthers supported on slender bent filaments, opening by two lateral pores.

Ovary, superior, terminated by a long simple style, six celled, each cell containing one seed.

Leaves about four inches in length, perfect, entire, of a coriaceous consistence, alternate, obovate lanceolate, upper surface of a pale green, under surface covered with close, short, reddish brown hairs. Midrib projects a little, forming a small process or beak.

liberal one, it will require the destruction of 10 trees to produce one picul. Now the quantity exported from Singapore to Great Britain and the Continent from 1st January 1845 to the present date, amounts to 6,918 piculs, to obtain which 69,000, 180 trees must have been sacrificed. How much better would it therefore be to adopt the method of tapping the tree practised by the Burmese in obtaining the Caoutchouc from the Ficus Elastica, (viz., to make oblique incisions in the bark, placing bamboos to receive the sap which runs out freely,) than to kill the goose in the manner they are at present doing. True they would not at first get so much from a single tree, but the ultimate gain would be incalculable, particularly as the tree appears to be of slow growth, by no means so rapid as the Ficus Elastica. I should not be surprised, if the demand increases, and the present method of extermination be persisted in, to find a sudden cessation of the supply.

REMARKS ON THE DYAKS OF BANJARMASSING.*

THE Dyaks are, in many respects, a very interesting people; very different in character from the cringing, fawning Malays, who here, and more particularly on the west coast of the island, come in contact with them, they meet us with a free and open countenance, and express their opinions and wishes, although not always off-hand, yet without subterfuge or cloak. They have much natural sense and a sound judgemnt, so that, in the most difficult and complicated affairs, they often know how to assist with surprising ability and sagacity.

The persons of the Dyaks are more graceful than those of the Malays, and their colour is much fairer than that of the Javanese. Tatooing is very general amongst them, and the flowers, circles, and other dark figures which they paint with great care, give a good effect to their slender and mostly muscular persons, which are wholy divested of all clothing. The only thing which a yet unpolished Dyak wears, is a headkerchief, and a small piece of cloth; or from want of it, a small strip of soft-beaten bark, around his loins, with which he conceals his shame. Both ends hang down in the manner of lappets, one in front, and one behind; a circumstance which has probably given rise to the singular assertion, "that some of them are furnished with tails." Far in the interior, the women also are but scantily clothed: a very narrow garment, which scarcely reaches from the waist to the knees, is usually their only dress.

In the middle of the island the people live, as it were, wholly in a state of nature; and neither men nor women appear to have any conception of shame. I, myself, have seen in the Kapus river, that the women with their children bathe naked in the presence of many men, and without any one perceiving the least impropriety or evil in it. In proportion to the Dyak's indifference respecting his dress, is his passion for various ornaments, particularly agate stones, of which he wears large and long pieces on his neck; and gold, with which he ornaments his teeth and wooden ear pins, sometimes as large as a piaster, and of which large plates are likewise worn by the wealthy on the breast. They are also fond of copper rings, which are worn in great abundance on the arms, principally by the women.

* Translated for this Journal from the Tijdschrift voo Neerlands Indie. Negende Yaargang, tweede aflevering

do.

†The Dyaks in the north-west of Borneo do not tattoo, although the Kyans

Mr. Brook says, "Even the Malays speak highly of the chastity of the Dyak women; yet, they are by no means shy under the gaze of strangers, and used to bathe before us in a state of nudity."— Kepp.l's Expedition to Borneo.

In these things their whole riches generally consist, save that persons of consideration sometimes also possess one or more of those large far-famed pots, of which the finest called blanga, has not unfrequently a value of 2,000 guilders. But, poor or rich, the Dyak is generally good humoured; and even if he can possibly manage it, and though he, with his wife and children, should remain in debt, he must sometimes in the year kill a hog, which he, along with a numerous gathering of his friends, joyously devours, qualified with a large quantity of tuak or arrack.

Although there are no drunkards, properly so called amongst the Dyaks, a single person seldom remains sober at such feasts. The tuak is passed round in large cups, and that till the larger pots are emptied, or their heads are so full and giddy that they hardly know each other, when they become very noisy, declare themselves all rich (tatu), frolicsomely embrace each other, and then, talking or singing, tumble to their huts. The principal feasts are those named tiwa, (death-feasts,) which last at least seven days. On such occasions ten buffaloes, and about the same number of pigs, are often killed. Nearly a thousand men are gathered, and by the time the seven days are ended, all the buffaloes, pigs, and twenty or twenty-five piculs of rice, part or which is made into tuak, are wholly consumed.

A chief part is played at such feasts by the blians (dancing girls): who day and night, sing improvising, with all their might; and the olo maga lian (the conductor of the soul), who brings the dead, likewise singing, and as he declares, in an iron ship, past hell, to a good place; for which service he receives, besides his share of the feast, from twenty to thirty bottles. The cost of such a tiwa sometimes runs as high as four to five hundred bottles, and brings the givers into such debt, that they have speedily to become pawns.

Their great superstition also costs them many sacrifices. If the Dyak goes on a journey, he first interrogates the Antang Ulang, a large bird of prey: that is to say, he goes to some secluded spot on a river's bank, where he cuts away some wood, brings an offering of rice and pork or fowl, and then calls his Nabi, until he takes his significant flight over him. If the flight of the bird is in the direction of the contemplated journey, there is no need to have any further concern, and he begins his journey in earnest; but if the bird flies in a contrary direction, he abandons his undertaking, at least for that day however much may occasionally depends on the speed of his journey; and he continues to go with his meals to the antang, and every time with a more pressing invitation, till it, finally, satisfies the desire of his heart, and starts towards the intended point.*

:

The Dyak also makes offerings on the occurrence of sickness, when the blians must again be present, who, besides the observance of the ceremonies seek to sustain the patient by singing and beating the tambourine. This however, is often attended with an opposite effect, for the patient, by the continued noise, day and night, is all the speedier sent to his grave.

It often happens too, that a dream gives occasion to sacrifices. When, for example, I once went into the house of my neighbour the mistress of the house related to me, that in the preceding night a ghost appeared in a dream

*The Sibnowan Dyaks appear to be devoid of this superstition. (See Expedition to Borneo, vol. 1. p_60.) Dr. Leydeu, who writes on the authority of Radermacher, Dalrymple, Forrest, and Burn, says, "They hold particular kinds of birds in high veneration, and draw omens from the sounds which they utter, and from their flights. One of the principal of these is a large species of white headed kite, which preys on fish, snakes, and vermin. In all their wars, journies, and, in short, all matters of importance, they pay most attention to omens of birds, and sometimes too, they endeavour to penetrate the secrets of futurity by consulting the entrails of birds."