and mixed more or less with parings of the wood and other impurities.  The Head is further distinguished into Europe and India-head, of which the first is superior, and is the only sort adapted to the home market:  the latter, with most of the inferior sorts, is exported to Arabia,* Persia, and some parts of India, where it is burned to perfume with its smoke their temples and private houses, expel troublesome insects, and obviate the pernicious effects of unwholesome air or noxious exhalations; in addition to which uses, in the Malayan countries, it is always considered as a necessary part of the apparatus in administering an oath.  It is brought down from the country for sale in large cakes, called tampang, covered with mats; and these, as a staple commodity, are employed in their dealings for a standard of value, to which the price of other things have reference, as in most parts of the world to certain metals.  In order to pack it in chests it is necessary to soften the coarser sorts with boiling water; for the finer it is sufficient to break the lumps and to expose it to the heat of the sun.  The greater part of the quantity brought to England is re-exported from thence to countries where the Roman Catholic and Mahometan religions prevail, to be there burnt as incense in the churches and temples.** The remainder is chiefly employed in medicine, being much esteemed as an expectorant and styptic, and constitutes the basis of that valuable balsam distinguished by the name of Turlington, whose very salutary effects, particularly in healing green and other wounds, is well known to persons abroad who cannot always obtain surgical assistance.  It is also employed, if I am not misinformed, in the preparation of court sticking-plaster.  The gum or resin called dulang is named by us scented benzoin from its peculiar fragrance.  The rasamala (Lignum papuanum of Rumphius, and Altingia excelsa of the Batavian Transactions) is a sort of wild benzoin, of little value, and not, in Sumatra, considered as an object of commerce.

(Footnote.  Les Arabes tirent beaucoup d’autres sortes d’encens de l’Habbesch, de Sumatra, Siam, Java, etc. et parmi celles-la une qu’ils appellent Bachor (bakhor) Java, et que les Anglois nomment Benzoin, est tres semblable a l’Oliban.  On en exporte en grande quantite en Turquie parles golfes d’Arabie et de Perse, et la moindre des trois especes de Benzoin, que les marchands vendent, est estimee meilleure que l’Oliban d’Arabie.  Niebuhr, Description de l’Arabie page 126.)

(**Footnote.  According to Mr. Jackson the annual importation of Benzoin at Mogodor from London is about 13,000 pounds annually.)

CASSIA.