, 1861-11-21
The Rohon Upas Tree.

II is rather q singular phenomenon in the econ
omy Of nature that the island Of Java should
produce at the same time the n1dngOsteen, the
most mellow and luscious Of fruits and the
deadly upas, the most malignant Of poisons. In
the journal Of botanst, lately deceased, whom
Napoleon sent to Java in 1910, to make collec-
tons Of plants for the imperial garden at St.
Cloud, we find the substance IN the following
facts. The Bohon Upas is situated in q valley,
watered by rivulet, and encompassed by hills,
at the distance Of fourteen leagues from Batavia.
The hills and mountains in its vicinage are en-
tirely barren and denuded, as no verdure can
vegetate where the breeze watts the pestilential
vapors that arise from the pestiferous gum Of
the upas. The French botanist, anxious, on his
return to France, to be able to lay before the En-
peror correct description Of the Java tree,
made, at the risk Of his life, tour oil round
this dangerous spot, at about four leagues dis
lance from its deleterious influence; and in every
direction, Of his circuit, he found vegetation lite
rally annihated, and the aspect Of the country
the most dismal and dreary that could be imag.
ined. Near the easiest ascent Of one Of the hills,
about sixteen miles from the station Of the tree,
there resided then an old Malayan priest, whose
Office Il was to prepare for eternity the souls Of
those who, for different crimes, were sent to pro-
cure the poison, which is q commodity that
yields the native government q considerable rev.
enue. The poison is gdm, which, like the cam
phoF, issues from the bark Malefactors under
the sentence Of death are the only persons who
are compelled to gather this deadly and baneful
gum. The ministers Of the native sovereign pro-
vide them with q, tortoise shell box, in which
they are to put the pestilerous gum. These de-
voted criminals proceed to the house Of the high
priest where they remain until the wind blows
in favorable direction, so rs to bearth ettluvia
GSnss. Al. l.. L..
the priest prepares them for the approaching
puts on them leather cap, with two glasses be-
fore their eyes, which comes down to their breast
Thus equipped, they set out on o journey to
that fatal bourne" from whence but few travel
lers return. The old ecclesiastic assured OR
traveller that during q residence Of over dirty
years on this great thoFoughiare Of death, he
had witnessed the departure to the upas Of more
than eight hundred unhappy beings, out Of whom
not more than thirty ever returned. Those who
escaped the dreadful influence Of the upas do
scribcd II as middling sized tree, decorated with
branches Of the most vivid verdure. It broods
sullenly over q rivulet, as landmark Of vegeta-
ton, in the barren vale Of the wilderness over
which It waves its poison foliage. -. .....
While our traveller remained in the island Of
Java, he witnessed the following horrid instance
Of the destructive poVerof the upas poison. In
February, 1910, he was present at the execution
Of twelve Of the Javanese kings mistresses, who
were convicted Of being iaithless to him.
The fair and intercs ing criminals were led into
the great court Of the palace Of 6Oura Charta,
where ajudge passed sentence Of death on them.
After going through many religious ceremonies,
the executioner stripped their breasts and then
claiming each Of the helpless dclinqnents to q
post, be proceeded to make an incision on the
bosom with alaneet poisoned with the upaS The
operation was performed on them all In the space
Of two minutes, and with such CELEBRITY did the
poison destroy the vital principle. that these un.
fortunate women, the victims Of 4 savage, were
all dead in less than quarter Of an hour.
"Some hours after their death, [" says our tFav-
eler, their bodies were livid spots, their faces
swelled, the color Of the skin changed to kind
Of blue, and their eyes were completely spotted
with yellow hues" 4....-
We believe that medical men estimate the upas
as the most deadly Of all vegetable poisons. In
times Of war il Is the practice Of the Maylayans
to throw the upas gum into the springs and Piv-
ulets in order to poison them. The other parts
Of the island Of Java are remarkably healthy;
prolific and rich in soil, that produces an abun-
dance Of the finest fruits-such as the cocoa, PALM
shaddock, oranges, lemons, citrons, tamaFinds,
mangoes, pine-apples, bananas, sweet-sops,
grapes, custard.apples, melons, pomegranateS
fgs and the delicious mangosteen, esteemed as
the finest fruit Of the East