The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-14
THE DE ABLY UPA>.
Detailed Version Of This Much
Quoted Myth.

Everybody has heard Of the deadly
Ifpas tree" yet few, probably, even Of
those who use the phrase with fine
rhetorical effect. have any very definite
conception OF Hs meaning. or course. the
whole thing IL a myth but TIE following
version, extracted from quaint cid book.
may serve 20 render our IDEAS less hazy
about 4.
THE Bohon Upas Is situated IN the
island of Java between eighteen and
twenty leagues from Tinkjoe, which Is TIA
residence OF the king 81 that country. II
ia surrounded on all sides by circle OF
hiEh bills and mountains, and the region
around L. to the distance OF ten or twelve
-.,NeS from the tree. ia entirely barren.
Not another tree nor shrub. nor even the
least blade % grass IS TO be seen. ! have
made The tour all around this dangerous
SPOT. ard found the aspect of The coan-
Try on al .ties equally drssry The east
ost ascent ~ Tire hills IA from that part
where dweIs An ancient hermit
From his house the criminals arc sent
for the poison. into which che points OF
al parIske instruments are dipped. q
is 81 htGh value ard brings q consider
aba revenue 70 the king. TIE poison
which Is procured from this tree - gun
that issues out between ire bark and tae
tree itself Ike camphor Nalsfactors. Who
Tor their crimes are senteaced - Gle. are
che ONLY PERSONS who fetch TIE poison=
and this - fhe ONLY chance they have -
sav.ne their lives After sentence is PRO
rouneca upon them ~ fhe Judge. they are
asked 81 court whether tAey wi dte ~
tha hands % tha axecuuouer. or whether
thev win 90 20 tha UpaS tree for q hex %
ire poison.
'~rAey commonly prefer the latter pro-
passl So there e not Culy some chance
- preserving thslr lives. NUs also the Ger
talntv {u esse 81 a safe return. that pre-
vfxsea WI hs made fa~ them In future BY
sha klne They are also permitted 20 ask
a favor - him. which - generally -
f-'aiGw nature anf is commonly grantees
Thsy are the1 provided VITA silver ~
ta-tcise-shet }s5x 81 Nbieh .hsy are 20 Fut
shs poisonous gurn. ard are properly in-
strfs-tesf Bow fnry ara 20 rgNceea while
they are upon thsir dangerous expedition
They arr ALWAYS tola 20 attend % ere
direction - fhe wind thev are 20 90
wards the cree before she wind. 40 tAat
TIE eesuvta frua, Be- aay - blown from
them They So frzc 90 The house - the
oaG ecclestRstlc. whe prepares them by
prayers ana asuonittors for frstr futura
tate. ~ also pats OF thera a ionx teathern
ran with tive glasses tr<Fcre rNelr ewes
whtch taeaes 6ewu as f&r as ere hrcRst
ans provides theni Ntth a pair - leatHerr
gloves Th~rsuror rhes are censturted nv
she rrles, ant their friraas aza relations
about Two miles on tHeir tourney.
The cla ecclesiasttc assured rle that En-
upwards - tefrsy wears he ha3 dismissed
ANosss 7go criminals n the manner de-
serfa..1 ana that scarcely fvo cu: q
-~rrnfv AaA rptgrne8 AT tAe WRfzyans
consider tbs tree SIS s he1y Instre meat q
shr great rronhfs 20 pgw3SA TIE sics q
mankind Therefore 70 aie ~ IRE poison os
ths Unas IS regarded among thern ss na
ore~ao3e 6eash Tbs. koxeNsT. e Ger
tain. thSt from eftesa % eighteen rngles
sya4na thts tree rot cn,y - Auus4n Great
ARE cAa exist taS 30 animal % any ktns
Pas ever Heen discovered Thsre are No
0sh fn fae vatrrs. sn6 when suy Slrss IS
50 ne1F sass cree ssst see eegssrta caa
rx4oA sAeEA sAaS 4zos e0xa 4s.As