have been generally supposed to be drawn from the ocean: but as the birds and their nests have been found forty or fifty miles inland, and frequently on the borders of lakes, where they have been observed to feed on various sorts of insects, this opinion has given way to another, that the birds possess a peculiar secretion, which they use in the formation of their nests. Whichsoever may be the correct opinion, small particles of shell, as well as of hay or dry grass, are seen in their composition. They are much used by the Chinese (among whom they sell at very high prices-sometimes twice their weight in silver) in consequence of being supposed to possess very nutritious and stimulating qualities. The cook of Louis XIV. declared that if he had plenty of sauces he could make good soup out of the sole of an old shoe. The same may be said of the edible birds' nests; the latter having, when dissolved and cleaned, somewhat the appearance and insipidity of isinglass in the same state.

But that which has probably obtained the highest celebrity among the natural productions of Java is the Oopas, Upas, or poison (now known as the antshar) tree. The story of its noxious qualities has been worked up into a romantic tale of terror, which for a long time was almost universally believed. To a great extent around this soul-appalling tree, as in the spell-bound circle of the enchanted dragon, the air was impregnated by its pestilence, to inhale which was death; and none but devoted criminals, whose lives depended on their success in obtaining the poison for the arrows of the sovereign, dared venture within its destructive range. These covered their mouths and nostrils, and, on entering within the fatal bounds, sped on the wings of life or death to effect the desperate undertaking. Like the plague-afflicted leper the Upas had no companion. Around it both animal and vegetable life became extinct, and like the "last man" of the novelist, it stood in solitary and awful supremacy amid surrounding scenes of death and desolation.

Such for a long time was the general belief in Europe, till knowledge and science burst the bonds of ignorance, and unshackled the mind from such gross and impudent impositions. No sooner had the British arms proved successful in Java, than the conquerors turned their attention towards the

natural, the scientific and the literary productions of the island and its inhabitants. Among those distinguished persons were Sir T. S. Raffles and Dr. Horsfield, an American gentleman at Batavia, to the latter of whom we owe the following and best account of this once dreaded and terrific tree :—

"The literary and scientific world has in few instances been more grossly and impudently imposed upon than by the account of the Pohon Oopas, published in Holland about the year 1780. The history and origin of this celebrated forgery still remains a mystery.

"It is in no small degree surprising that so palpable a falsehood should have been asserted with so much boldness, and have remained so long without refutation.

"But though the account just mentioned, in so far as relates to the situation of the poison-tree, to its effects on the surrounding country, and to the application said to have been made of the Oopas on criminals in different parts of the islands, as well as the description of poisonous substance itself, and its mode of collection, has been demonstrated to be an extensive forgery; the existence of a tree on Java, from whose sap a poison is prepared, equal in fatality, when thrown into circulation, to the strongest animal poisons hitherto known, is a fact, which it is at present my object to establish and to illustrate.

"The tree which produces this poison is called Antshar, and grows in the eastern extremity of the island.

"The Antshar is one of the largest trees in the forests of Java. The stem is cylindrical, perpendicular, and rises completely naked to the height of sixty, seventy, or eighty feet. Near the surface of the ground it spreads obliquely, dividing into numerous broad appendages or wings, much like the Canarian commune, and several others of our large forest trees. It is covered with a whitish bark, slightly bursting in longitudinal furrows: near the ground this bark is, in old trees, more than half an inch thick, and upon being wounded yields plentifully of the milky juice from which the celebrated poison is prepared. A puncture or incision being made in the tree, juice or sap appears oozing out of a yellowish colour (somewhat frothy); from old trees, paler; and nearly white from young ones; when exposed

to the air, its surface becomes brown. The consistence very much resembles milk, only it is thicker and viscid. This sap is contained in the true bark (or cortex), which, when punctured, yields a considerable quantity, so that in a short time a cup full may be collected from a large tree. The poorer classes employ the inner bark of younger trees, which is more easily prepared, for the purpose of making a coarse stuff which they wear when working in the fields. But it requires much bruising, washing, and a long immersion in waters, before it can be used, and even when it appears completely purified, persons wearing this dress, on being exposed to the rain, are affected with an intolerable itching, which renders their flimsy covering almost insupportable.

"It will appear from the account of the manner in which the poison is prepared, that the deleterious quality exists in the gum, a small portion of which still adhering to the bark, produces, when it becomes wet, this irritating effect.

"The Antshar delights in a fertile and not very elevated soil, and is only found in the largest forests. In clearing the new grounds in the environs of Banjoowangee for cultivation, it is with much difficulty the inhabitants can be made to approach the tree, as they dread the cutaneous eruption which it is known to produce when newly cut down. But except when the tree is largely wounded, or when it is felled, by which a large portion of the juice is disengaged, the effluvia of which, mixing with the atmosphere, affects the persons exposed to it, with the symptoms just mentioned, the tree may be approached and ascended like the other common trees in the forests."

SUMATRA.

This extensive island was, according to various traditions, first peopled from Java, and as it seems to have been clearly ascertained that the Hindu religion was introduced into that country by its first settlers, or by some of its earliest visitors, there can be no question of its having been conveyed from thence into Sumatra. To what extent it may have flourished in this

last mentioned island does not appear to have been so well ascertained. The magnificent and almost unrivalled monuments of its existence in Java are not to be found in Sumatra. Mr. Anderson, in his account of his mission to the coast of that island, has, however, stated, that he discovered at Jambi the remains of an ancient Hindu temple of considerable dimensions, and near the spot various mutilated figures, which would appear to clearly indicate the former existence of the worship of the Vedantic mythology. Among these figures were a bull, about half the natural size, kneeling, the body and neck adorned with wreaths of bell-shaped flowers, with a bell suspended at the chest; four figures, each representing an elephant's head:* and the statue of a man* in relief, in a sitting posture, with a high ornament head-dress. The natives called them the chessmen of the gods or genii.

This extensive island is now inhabited by numerous tribes. The sea coast is principally occupied by the Malays, who are Mahomedans; and the interior of the country by various mountain tribes, who state their origin to have been from Java by a prince and princess (brother and sister), who first settled in Sumatra from that island. Some of these are partially Mahomedans, practise circumcision, and observe some of the Mahomedan ceremonies: but they also acknowledge other dewas or deities, whose sacred abode is the celebrated volcano mountain Gunung Dempo. These deities are benignant spirits who watch over the destinies of mortals. There are also evil spirits called Jins, who are supposed to be the authors of all evils. The utmost veneration is paid by the tribes in question to the manes of deceased ancestors, who are considered scarcely inferior to the gods; they also entertain a firm belief in the existence of spirits and aerial beings of various descriptions. Others of these sects have no idea of a Supreme Being, nor belief in the doctrines of Mahomed: they, however, call their principal Dewa on the Gunung Dempo Alla Tualla. Among these tribes are the inhabitants of Pasummah Lebar and Pasummah Ulu Manna. manners of the higher class are described as courteous and respectful: those of the lower order as being rude and savage. They are, nevertheless, hospitable, open, generous, and brave; temperate in their diet, and seldom

* Now brought to England and presented to the Royal Asiatic Society.

The

eating flesh but like the Bataks (as will be presently seen), except not being cannibals, will not scruple to partake of it in a most revolting state. Their mode of writing is by scratching with a knife, or something sharp, on a piece of split bamboo. Deadly party feuds exist among them for two or three generations, which are rarely appeased, till much bloodshed has taken place.

In other places in this extensive mountainous tract, the inhabitants are described as inhospitable, addicted to theiving, implacable in their tempers, and harbouring revenge in their bosoms for years, until an opportunity is afforded them of running-a-muck, to destroy the party who has excited their enmity. In doing this they will kill or wound all who attempt to oppose their design until they are themselves destroyed. They are much afflicted with immense goitres; but entertain a high opinion of their own personal comeliness: at all events European features and complexions appear to be held in very low estimation among them, as one of them, who was adorned with an excrescence of enormous size, said to his companions in the presence of some English gentlemen, "These are the white men we have so often heard of: here they are like devils." The object of these gentlemen was to ascend to the crater of Gunung Dempo, in which, after undergoing extraordinary difficulties, they unfortunately failed.

One of the objects reverenced by the tribe in question is, according to the relation of the parties just alluded to, an ancient spear, which is said to possess most miraculous powers, as it speaks, is consulted as an oracle, and is deemed to be so invincible in war that hosts fly before it. When it is brought from its usual depository the people fall down and worship it.

But among the most extraordinary of the various people inhabiting the mountain tracts of the interior of Sumatra, are the tribes of Bataks, or Battas, occupying the border of the Great Lake and the adjacent country.

"It is known by the name of the Batak's country, and may be described generally as comprising the whole of that part of Sumatra which is situated between the equator and 24° North latitude, with the exception of a few Malay settlements at the mouths of the rivers on either coast.

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The lake of Toba, the middle of which bears about north-east from the