The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-08-21
TIE DEADLY upAn.
Detailed Version Of This Myth with
which Few Arc Familiar.

Detailed Version 81 This Myth with
which Few Arc Familiar.
Everybody has heard OF the deadly
upas tree, yet few. probably. even Of
those who use the phrase with fine
rhetorical effect have any very definite
conception OF its meaning OF course,
the whole thing Is a myth. but the fol-
lowing version. extracted from q quaint
old book, may serve to render our ideas
less hazy about it. says an exchange.
The Bohon upas Is situated In the
island Of Java. between eighteen and
twenty leagues from Tinkioe. which is
the residence OF the king OF that coun-
try II is surrounded on all sides by
circle of high hills ana mountains
aud the region around it TO the dis
tance Of ten or twelve miles from the
tree, Is entirely barren. Not another
tree nor a shrub. nor even the least
blade Of grass is TO be seen. have
made the tour all around this danger
ous spot and ! found the aspect OF the
country on all sides equally drearv.
The easiest ascent OF the hills is from
that part where dwells an ancient her
nit From his house the criminals are
sent for the poison. into which the
points OF all warlike instruments are
dipped; it is Of high value and brings
a considerable revenue to the king. The
poison which is produced from this
tree is a gum that issues out between
the bark and the tree itself, like cam
f,.. h.t faa
are sentenced to die are the only per-
! sons who fetch the poiscos. and this
is the only chance they We of saw
ing their lives. After sentence Is pro-
nounced upon them by the judge they
are asked In court whether they viii
die by the hands OF the executioner or
whether they will go to the upas tree
for box or the poison. They com
| monty prefer the latter proposal. as
! there is not only some chance OF pre-
] serving their lives. hut also the cer-
tainty in case OF safe return that a
! provision will be made for them In fu-
ture by the king. They are also per-
mitted to ask a favor from him. which
is generally OF triling nature and IS
commonly granted. They are then
| provided with 3; silver or tortoise
shell box in which they are to put the
poisonous gum and are properly in
siructed how they are to proceed while
they are upon their dangerous expe-
dition They are always told 20 at
tend to the direction of the wind; they
are to go toward the tree before the
! wind, so that the efIluyia from IL may
be blown from them. They 90 first tC
the house OF the old ecclesiastic who
prepares them by prayers and admoni-
tions for their future fate; he also puts
on them long leathern cap with two
glasses before their eyes, which comes
down as far as the breast and provides
them with a pair of leather gloves
Thereupon they are conducted by tn,
priests and their frieuds and relations
about two miles on ,heir journey.
"The old ecclesiastic assured me tha
In upward Of third years he had dis
missed above 700 criminals in the man
ner described and that scarcely two
out of twenty had returned. All The
Malayans consider this tree as a. holy
instrument Of the great prophet t'
punish the sins of mankind; therefore
to die by the poison of the upas is re
garded among them as an honorable
death This. however. Is certain, tha
from fifteen TO eighteen miles aroun'
this tree not only no human creatur
can exist but no animal of any hn'
kas ever been discovered. There ar
no fish in the waters. and when an.
birds fly so near this tree that tn
erluvia can reach them they drop dow
dead"