Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-02-02
From the Magazine of usful and Entertaining Knowledge
 THE BOHON UPAS TREE.

TIE DOHON OHAS TREE.
 The BORON UPAs, OF poison tree of Java,
 from the ingenious internxturc of truth and fdnle with wlilrh its earlp history was cnnnec- ted, presents one of the most remarkable hc- tions ofmoden times. The properties at tributed to it were such as were calculated to
 excite the greatest astonishment, as exceed ing any thing injurious to animal life within
 the whole range of the vegetable creation. It
 was represented as tree standing alone and
 unaccompanied by any other vegetable, but
 i'll itself a living source of the most virulent
 poison, dealing instant death not only to any
 one who shonld have the temerity to appIo oh
 t, but cXhsling such a presidential atmos-
 phere as to be immeditt ly fatal to any living thing which came within its influence. The poison which was obtaino d from its trunk, and used by the natives, was procured by means of criminals condemned to death, but whose punishment was cGmmuted to the chance of escaping with life from the hopeless attempt to approach the tiee; an escape which could only be effected in the remote event of ia vardble wind to carry off tke noxious va pour by means of which they could reach he
 hc f saiaff sh q S raFf as to render
 The true history of the Bohnn Upas has of late years been investigated; and, as usually happens with m st of these relations which
 
 vell0us characteristics attributed to it are found to be perfectly reconcilablc with the ordinary laws of nature. It is to be regret ted, that the pages of natural history, which ought to be the record of rigid truth and fact, should be so often dsfgured by relations ci- ther fabricated by unprincipled and menda- cious narrators, or credulously received from ignorant and superstitious natives, who are always willingt to minister to the appetite of l this class Of men for the unnatural and pro-
 digious.
 I It is not less to be regretted, that such is
 the proneness ill mankind to indulge in these | monstrous creations of fancy, that their nflu
 ercc remains long after their utter falsity has
 been detected. The Bohon Upas has furnish
 cd the theme of much pnetical illustration,
 and will perhaps continue to exist among the
 machinery of the poet with the Hydras and f Chime9as, the Mermails aud Gorgons, and
 other monsters of prurient fancy, ignorant of the real and more truly remarkable wen
 ders of nature The poison called Upas and
 ipA, is used by the natives of Molucca and the neghboring isl nds, and has always been an
 object of curiosity from the wonderful effects said to be produced by it, and the exaggerat-
 ed descriptions which travellers have receiv-
 cd frcm the Indians of those places concern :
 ing it. The tree, as it is described bs Les
 chenanlt, is large, rising to the height of %
 feet, and with trunk of 18 feet crcumfer-
 ence at it's base. 1t belongs in the Lnnean
 arrangement, to the monecous class, or
 those having the stamina and pistils separate in different flowers on the same plant. It is usually found growing in fertile places, sur rounded by other plants, on which it's neigh borhoosl has no sort of injurious effect. Its trunk is straight, and covered with a smooth whtish bark, and the wood whltish. The : leaves generally fall before the iiowering conl- mences, and unfold again after the mail How CTS have blown; they arc of an oval figure, of tough, leathery conscience, a pale green a color, rough to the touch, and covered with short hairs. -.. ..l .f- 4
 /; The flowers are of two kinds: the male, which are numerous, and seated on recep- !, tacle, and borne on a long footstalk or pc ! duncles; the shape of the receptacle, is much like that of a mushroom: the female flowers arc solitary, and have not the long petluncle of the male; the calix is thick n and crowded with scales; the germen single, s stvlostwo, separating widely from each other. I The juice of the trunk is very viscid, ofa bit ! ter taste and whitish color, and exudes copi- !. ously from the tree, when an exc;sion is made. l The calculations from the juice are like tn osi
 which proceed from many kinds of euph9r- T bia, sumacks, and the manchneal tree oi c South America, and arc dangerous, particu- llarly 10 certain constitutions, which seem s more liable to absorb the cmnatons, thai . others which are not affected by them. A v Javanese was employed by Leschenault to pro :, cure Towering specimens from tree, to ef feet which he was obliged to climb the trunk he had not ascended above 20 feet before hS c found himself affected with nausea and yer r tigo, and was obliged to stop and return; ht II .cI, oft de - Another Javanese employed for the same 2 purpose, mounted to the top of the same tree il and brought away the desired specimens l. without experiencing the least inconvenience 2 Leschenault himself had one ofthe trees cu c down, and went frequently among the bran : ches, and even rubbed the gum resin whicl l. oezed from the cut limbs on his face an( e hands, but felt no effect from it whatever. y The various animals which inhabit the o $ ther trees in the vicinity, appeared to maki W no distinction with respect to the Upas, bu y lizards aud insects were as commonly observ IS cd on it's trunk as any other and birds wer e as often observed perching cn its branches n The effect which the tree is thus found t. j. lpreduce upon certain temperaments, is no Q greatly different from that which character : izes the poison sumack, rhus pernir of ou n own country. This plant usually grows as $ bush or small tree, commonly in low swam $ py grounds, and on some constitutions it pro | duces very troublesome effect, net only ,; when handled, but on coming within the ex- halations which proceed from it. Painfu {; ernptioHs and swellings are the consequence, t while to others it is perfectly harmless.
 The chefuse which is made ofthe juice ol n the Upas, is in the preparation of poison : with which the Indians of Borneo, Java, and : other neghboring places, tinge the points of theirarro which they employ in the chase, or as weapons of war. The manner of pre- pairing this poison is secret confded only