Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-18
From Appleton's Journal.l RI
THE B0H0N.UPAS-TREE.
By H. W. DODGE.

During the cruise of the United States
ship Plymouth in the East Indies she
visited the coast of Borneo, and there
spent some time in regulating our com
mercial interests. While lying off the
mouth of Bruni river, upon which is
situated the capital city of Borneo
PROPER, party was made up to visit a
upas-tree, which it appears are occa-
sionally found in other islands than Java.
With boats crew well armed we left
the ship at daybreak, in order to accom-
plish the distance (twenty-one miles,
before the sun came out in full strength.
Reaching the mouth of the river after a
pull of an hour and a half we landed
to eat our breakfast, and, after resting
the crew, put off again, arriving at our
place of destination about 10 am. We
we're all looking out eagerly for the
realization of one of the wonderful
stories that so fascinated our boyhood;
but here were no barren wastes, or arid,
skeleton-covered plains.
Following our native guide-boat, we
sheered in alongside of grassy bank,
the summit of which was laid out in
small plots like children's gardens at
home, each plot surrounded by border
Of shells, with carefully kept walks be
tween them. Nothing but grass and
flowers were growing there, but these
we're most luxuriant; for this was a
graveyard, and we were even then stand
ing under the shadow of the terrible
poison-tree, near which these people bury
their dead, which may partially account
for the wonderful stories told by early
travellers. The tree itself measured
eleven feet in circumference five feet
above the ground, and, instead of scat
tering death and destruction, was girted
round with creeping vines and many
colored parasites that wonnd their way
to the topmost branches, which were
higher than any of the surrounding trees,
and equaled, if not surpassed, those OF
our loftiest forest trees at home.
An incision was made, after the man
ner of tapping maple-trees, and the sap,
which is reported to be deadly poison,
commenced flowing drop by drop. 1t
was of yellowish white color, thick and
glutinous, resembling, in its general ap-
pearance, good rich cream. There was
no unpleasant odor percephble from
it, nor did any Of us experience any
disagreeable sensations, though standing
near by while the sap was being dis
charged. This was so slow an operation
that it required nearly an hour to fill a
two-ounee YisL Meantime it was desi-
rable to procure some Of the leaves and
branches, but these we're beyond our
reach, as the lowest branch was at least
hundred feet from the ground, and,
although they could easily have climbed
up by the vines, the surgeon in charge
Of the party refused to let them make
the attempt, fearing that their hands
and feet might become poisoned.
AZ last, having loaded all our carbines
With bal, particular limb was selected
and we fred together, by this means
securing several fine specimens.
Having obtained matter enough Of all
kinds TO satisfy the demands Of science,
we returned to the ship, arriving on board
at two o'clock in the morning, highly
rratifed by the result Of our visit to this
great natural curiosity, which had been
one Of the wonders and mysteries OF our
bOyhOod.