"I feel thoroughly convinced in my own mind that such
astonishingly rich quinine-yielding trees as those in Java are
not known to exist (in any quantity) in Bolivia. These wonderful
trees are only to be found in the Caupolican district in Eastern
Yungas. The white flower is specially belonging to the cinchona
'rogo' of Apolo.
"You will call to mind, no doubt, the very great difficulties
you had to get this wonderful 'seed' looked at, even; how a part
was purchased by Mr. Money for account of our East Indian
Government for £50 under condition of 10,000 germinating. Though
60,000 plants were successfully raised from it by the late Mr.
McIver, I only received the £50.
"The seed taken by the Netherlands Government cost it barely
£50.
"Such, then, is the story attaching to the now famous _Cinchona
Ledgeriana_, the source of untold wealth to Java, Ceylon, and, I
hope, to India and elsewhere. I am proud to see my dream of
close on forty years ago is realized; Europe is no longer
dependent on Peru or Bolivia for its supply of life-giving
quinine."
Before closing this chapter I may mention that there is a considerable
plantation of gutta-percha trees in the horticultural garden at
Buitenzorg. The best producer of gutta-percha, _Pelaguium_ (_isonandra_)
_Gutta_, grows nowhere on the island naturally, but seeds were obtained
from two specimens of this plant which had been placed in the botanical
garden, and the plantation was established some years ago at the
suggestion of Dr. Treub. In view of the recent development of electrical
engineering and the increased demand for indiarubber generally which has
arisen in the last few years, the fact that an unlimited supply of this
valuable plant can be obtained in Java is one of some importance to the
commercial world.
CHAPTER XII.
SOCIAL LIFE.
Dutch society in the East--Batavian etiquette--
English residents--Clubs--Harmonie--Concordia--
Lawn-tennis--Planters--Horse-racing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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