The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Philberto Vernatti ( - )
Identified in Royal Society documents as "residing at Batavia in Java Major." Relevant locations: Lived at or near Batavia, JavaRelationships: Philberto Vernatti was a source of object(s) for Royal Society (-)
Linked print sources: as Mentioned or referenced by - To some of the queries, which were recommended by Sir R. Moray to Sir Phil. Vernatti, President in Java Major, were left un-answered of those that are sound in the history of the R. Society, p. 158, &c.
References in Documents:
factitious, By others, to be
a Natural Animal Stone. Par
ticularly by Sir
be taken out of the Head of a Serpent in
it was sent by him hither. It seems to be that called Bulgolda, which
out of the Head of an Animal, which the Bulgoldalf. Whether it be natural or artificial, I
shall here de
scribe it.
'Tis about ¾ of an inch long, above ½ over, and ¼
thick;
flat and almost orbicular, like a Cowslip-Cake, or other
like Confection. All round about very smooth, and shining,
for the greater part, black; but with some ash-colour inter
mixed; so as to look like a River-pebble. But of a
substance soft
and friable, like the Oriental Bezoar. And in like manner, as
the same Stone, is easily
dissolved with any Nitrous Spirit
dropped upon it, but not with
other Acids. Which is to
me an argument that it grows within some
Animal: it
being the nature of most Animal-Stones, to be
dissoluble
only by Nitrous Spirits.
Sir a)
a)
soph. Trans.
N. 6
saith, That if it be laid to
a Wound, made by any Ve
nimous Creature, it is said to
stick to it, and so to draw away
all the Venime. And the like I
have heard affirmed of the
same Stone by a Physitian of Note in
this City.
factitious, By others, to be
a Natural Animal Stone. Par
ticularly by Sir
be taken out of the Head of a Serpent in
it was sent by him hither. It seems to be that called Bulgolda, which
out of the Head of an Animal, which the Bulgoldalf. Whether it be natural or artificial, I
shall here de
scribe it.
growing upon it.
Given by the Honorable
Mr. Gum is perfectly like
to that of the Wood. The Colour, like that of the purest
and
most lucid Alœ, called Succotrina: for with the light
reflected, it looks almost like Pitch; with
the light trans
mitted, it glisters like a Carbuncle; powder'd, it is of a
reddish
yellow. This, or some other like Aromatick
Gum,
the Alœ of the Hebrews: whence the other, from simili
tude, hath its Name.
The Tree is described by a) a)
c.
76
bigness of the Olive. This Wood is the Heart of the Tree,
the outward part, commonly called the Sap of a Tree,
being whitish and soft. 'Tis said by Sir
(b)
b)
Trans.
N. 43
hurtful, that if any of it lights in the Eyes, it
causeth blind
ness; or scabbiness, if on any other
part of the Body. But
this, doubtless, is to be understood
neither of the Heart,
nor the Sap; but only of the Barque:
there being no
Milk-Vessels in either of the former, that I
remember, in
any Tree, by me observ'd.
Of this Tree there are two sorts: (a) a)
l. 1. c.
76
Calamba, and grows most in
used in
Beads and Crucifixes. The
wilder, called Palo Daguilla, and grows most in
their Bramenes and other men of account, in token of honor.
See hereof also b)b)
Garsiam
well be called:
for it naturally smells like the strongest
humane excrements,
especially, as upon the emptying of
a House
of Office. It grows in the Isles of
from whence Sir
to this Musæum. (d) d)
Trans. N.
43
preserved
many years, yet seems to give as full and quick a
scent as
ever. Yet in burning, it yields no smell; as do
Lignum Alœ and some other Woods. 'Tis
ponderous,
hard, and of the colour of
large Aer-Vessels; yet but few. I
should have conjectur'd,
that this Wood belong'd to the Tree
called Ahovaj, which
hath a stinking
smell, but that this is said to be the more
odious when it burns.
from
of the colour, smell, and tast of That of Sassafras; but is
much more fragrant. The
Oil of Sassafras is
distill'd only
from the Wood. But if one were distill'd from the
Barque,
it might equal This.
VernattiIsland commonly
poyson their Arrows.
They have of several sorts; the
most dangerous said (a) a)
Ind.
Trav.
l. 3. c. 19
Trees in Species of
Cantharides; which
seem to be mixed
with a kind of Corrosive Salt.
the Life. Taken
in
Sir