a Persian word, signifying a hard substance found in the cavities of the bamboo or Indian reed, and highly valued as a medicine in the East Indies. Though some account was given of the tabasheer by the Arabian physicians, no accurate knowledge of it was obtained till Dr Ruffel favoured the public with his observations on it.

According to this gentleman's information, the tabasheer is produced from the female bamboo, which is distinguished from the male by the largeness of its cavity. It is easy to discover, without opening them, what bamboos contain it, as they make a rattling noise when shaken. Dr Ruffel having examined a bamboo brought from Vellore, consisting of six joints, found no appearance of tabasheer in two of them; all the rest contained some, but of various quality and quantity; the whole amounting to about 27 grains. The best was of a bluish white resembling small fragments of shells, harder also than the rest, but which might be easily crumbled between the fingers into a gritty powder; and when applied to the tongue and palate, had a slight saline and tartaceous taste; the weight not exceeding four grains. The colour of the rest was cineritious, rough on the surface, and more friable; having some particles of a larger size intermixed, but light, spongy, and somewhat resembling pumice stones; which appearance, our author supposes, led the Arabians to think that fire was concerned in the production. The two middle joints were of a pure white colour within, and lined with a thin film. In these the tabasheer was principally found. The other joints, particularly the two upper ones, were discoloured within; and in some parts of the cavity was found a blackish substance in grains or in powder, adhering to the sides, the film being there obliterated. In two or three of the joints a small round hole was found at top and bottom, which seemed to have been perforated by some insect.

Garzias informs us, that it is not found in all bamboos, nor in all the branches indiscriminately, but only in those growing about Bifagur, Batcada, and one part of the Malabar coast. Dr Ruffel was informed by a letter from a medical gentleman attending the embassy to the Nizam, that though tabaheer bears a high price at Hydrabad, it is never brought thither from Bifagur; and that some of what is sold in the markets comes from the pails of Atcoul in Canouli; and some from Emmabad, at the distance of about 80 miles to the north-west; but that the most part comes from Mafulipatam. That sold in the markets is of two kinds; one the rate of a rupee per dram, but the other only half that price; the latter, however, is supposed to be factitious, and made up mostly of burnt teeth and bones. Dr Ruffel himself also, is persuaded that the tabaheer met with in commerce is greatly adulterated. The above-mentioned gentleman likewise informed the doctor that tabaheer was produced in great quantities at Sylhet, where it is sold by the pound, from one rupee to one and an half; forming a considerable article of trade from Bengal to Persia and Arabia. There is, however, a third kind, much superior to either of the two above described; differing not only in its superior whiteness, but likewise in being much less mixed with heterogeneous particles; being likewise much harder, heavier, and scarcely in any degree triable by the finger.

From the experiments of Dr Ruffel, it appears that the tabaheer is the juice of the bamboo thickened and hardened to a certain degree. Its chemical qualities, as far as we have heard, have not yet been minutely examined. The following observations on its medical effects were taken from a Persian work, intitled the "Tofut ul Monein of Mahommed Monein Hofenny," by Mr Williams, a surgeon in the service of the East India Company. The tabaheer puts a stop to bilious vomitings and to the bloody flux. It is also of service in cases of palpitation of the heart, in faintings, and for strengthening those members of the body that are weakened by heat. It is useful also for the piles, and for acute or burning fevers, and for pustules in the mouth (thrush); and, given with oxymel, is of service against rheumatism, melancholy, and hypochondriacal affections. The habitual internal use of it is prejudicial to the virile powers. It is also said to be prejudicial to the lungs. Its corrective is the gum of the pine and honey. The dose of it is to the weight of two drachms, or seven maassas.