STAGMARIA VERNICIFLUA. Jack.
Arbor vernicis, Bumph. I Kaya rangas, . M lLAY. Black varnish tree, . ENG. I A native of the Eastern Islands, but not very abundant in Sumatra, though occasionally found in the neighbourhood of rivers. The wood is of a tine dark colour towards the centre. The bark exudes a resin which is extremely acrid, causing excoriation and blisters when applied to the skin. I n this, as well as in becoming black when exposed to the air, it resembles the Melanorrham, cashew nut tree, poison oak, and others of the Terebin thacem. According to Rumphins, this tree yields the celebrated Japan lacquer or varnish, and he considers it the same with that of Siam and Tonquin. Loureiro, however, represents the latter to be the produce of another tree. Mr. Jack says the varnish of Siam and Cochin-China is probably the best, but that of Celebes and of Java, which is the produce of this tree, is also employed for the same purposes, and cannot be much inferior, as it bears an equally high price. Chiaese and
Tonquinese insert into the trunks two pieces of bamboo, sharpened at their points, in such a manner as to penetrate the bark in a somewhat oblique direction. This fluid resin is sold in Tonquin and Camboja for 33 to 60 dollars the pikul, but in many of the provinces of China for 200 or 300 dollars. The varnish is prepared for use by boiling it with an equal weight of the oil of Tang-yhu. The proportions are varied accord ing to the purposes for which the varnish is re quired. Sometimes dry pigments are added for the sake of the red or other colours. The Japanese are the most skilful in preparing and ornamenting all kinds of work with this varnish, and their black lacquered works are' conveyed to all parts of the world.—.Tack, Malayan Miscellany, No. 3 ; Eng. Cyc. ; Jameson's Edin. Journal, vi.