| text: |
Neither have the products of the vegetable kingdom received any thing more than cursory attention. That they are varied is evident to the most casual observation, but the different species composing the whole have never been fixed or even attempted to be examined. The existence of the tea-plant was long ago known, but its being in the abundance that it is was only lately ascertained. The prospect of profit gave keenness to the search for the tea-plant, and doubtless the same cause will yet bring to light valuable products hitherto unknown. The presence of gum and resin bearing trees, the former in abundance, is noticeable by all, and the Khongjais or Kookies have brought us to the knowledge of trees producing varnish similar to that of japan, and which (74) can be planted as the plantations in that country are said to be. The same people uses medicinally the bark of a tree, which from its taste they name "bitter tree" and all of them cure their spear wounds and bruises, by applications of the leaves of plants having healing properties. A blue dye is extracted from, I believe, wild indigo, a red one from a creeper, and from the root of a plant which seems well diffused through the hills. |
