Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-02-10
ipiion Of the Poison Tree of the Island
Of Java.

Aisd from the original Dutch Of n. p. Foersch,
IS destructive tree is called in Malayan
age, Bohon Upas, and has been de-
. by ualuralists; butthe accounts have
% tinctured with the marvellous, that
hole narration has been supposed to
ingenious fiction, BY the generality OF
IS Nor is this in the least degree sur
& when the circumstances. which we
Faithfully relate in this description are
ered. | must acknowledge, that l
|oubled the existence of this tree, until
er enquiry convinced me of my err
shall now only relate simple una
facts, of which | have been an eve
My readers may depend upon the
OIL this account. In The year l775,
3saoned at Batavia, as a surgeon, in
Fvlce oil the Dutch East India Com.
During my residence there, | re-
several different accounts OF the Bo-
pas and the violent effects Of its poison.
dil then seemed incredible to me, bu,
nycurloslly in so high a degree. that
Ved to investigate this subject thor.
ana 10 trust only to my own obser-
10 consequence of this resolution.
60 10 the Governor General for a pass
through the country: My request
an'ed and having procured recon
ION from an old Malayan priest TO
priest who lives on the nearest hab-
po to the tree, which is about fifteen
81 miles distant, The letter proved Of
elSice to me in my undertaking, as
- IS appointed by the emperor 10 re.
y IN order to prepare for enternity
sO' those who, for different crimes,
eaced to approach the tree, and to
ne poison. The Bohon Upas is
~ 'ne Island Of Java, about twenty.
ssuss from Batavia, fourteen from
"aI,a' The seat of the Emperor. and
eighteen and twenty leagues from
'Ie present residence of the Sultan
N'S surrounded on all sides by a |
a,gn hills and mountains and the |
s'Ouaa II to the distance of ten or
~, n',e' from the tree, is entirely barren.
= nor a shrub, nor even the leas, |
g,ass is 10 be seen. have made |
S,' around this dangerous spot, al |
sa'eea miles distant from the centre.
r sIl me aspect Of the country on ali |
%'y ufeary. The easiest ascent OIL
! from the part where the old &c. |
4 s %mslIs, From his house the Grim.
az sgIl lot the poison, into which The
<bigb ~ VAT, instruments are dipped.
|ep S~ , "a 'I and produces a consider
ruue 10 the Emperor.
o'. ~ we manner in ,chich The po;s.
b. "% ,t; The poison which is pro.
,Sa H. ,ree' IS a gum that issues out,
N aIs and the tree itself, like the
eD,' %ale'ac!ors who, fortheir crimes. I
4 ', ,5a 10 TO die, are the only persons
!. %e poison; and this only chance
||Dro ~ saving their lives. Afler sen.
astsS e upon them by the Judge,
\ 6 soa N count, whether they will
Mn I' a Of the executioner or wheth.
TSsS U'o The Upas tree for a box oil
as Ky commonly prefer the latter
|yi Il su 'h Is not only some chance
n ,Is; "e'r lives, but also a certainty
bade ' y. 'aIe return that a provision
Tbsv' o y. them in future by the En-.
|p my q are also permitted to ask a
% ~ a, Emperor, which is generally
then pr'u n and commonly granted.
|he N'b provided with a silver or
Inou, 0o s' IN which they are to nut
how i gum and are properly in
d,n - proceed while they are up.
|'ticuIasse expedition. Among
, oI ,t they are to attend to The
he trss ' Winds as they are 10 go1
|om Vi" &c. before the wiad, SO tha, ~, 6
'e Tree Is always blown from