of my tree that produced the gold specks,
and requested him to have some paper made entirely from the Allmanyuka
leaf, and to use the most delicate machine for the experiment.

Though accustomed to obey my orders in implicit faith, the overseer
confessed to me afterwards that for certain reasons he had great cause
to doubt whether the experiment would succeed. It, however, was
commenced without delay. The pulp, or jelly, after having passed through
the process of boiling, was of a neutral tint, without the least
appearance of gold, and all hope of the desired colour vanished in the
thought of the workmen. It was, indeed, reported to me that no golden
tint was apparent; but I did not yet despair.

When the pulp was spread out with the trowel, it remained still
colourless, but after it had undergone the process of pressing, which
generally took place immediately before sponging, it presented to the
astonished workmen the appearance of one sheet of gold; and when it had
been exposed to the sun, it acquired the highest golden polish possible.

The material thus obtained is finer than cambric, and is used for
beautiful scarfs, sun-turbans, neckties for ladies, slippers, covers,
cushions, and various ornamental articles.

XXXIX.

CONSUMPTION.

THE EMEUTE.

"The huge poison-tree once lay concealed in the heart of the minute
seed. Why seek ye not the germs of disease poison in their minute
receptacles?"

Formerly, in certain parts of the low marshy lands, the moist and
noxious exhalations generated various diseases, particularly one
answering to your phthisis, and called by us karni-feroli, that is,
"absorption of the vitality." Numbers lingered, with energies depressed
and faculties impaired, till cut off by death. In its early stages, the
disease gave no indications of its presence beyond the signs common to
the most ordinary illnesses to which, indeed, they were attributed.
However, no remedy was found by the doctors.

Even where the possible presence of the disease was suspected, the
respiratory organs of the sufferer were subjected to various tests; but
if certain symptoms were absent, and the patient breathed easily, the
physicians concluded that there was no danger in the case. The signs
they sought were in reality those belonging to an advanced state of the
disease and, when these appeared, the malady was generally beyond cure.

No effectual measures were taken for discovering ind