GURJUN OIL, an oleo-resinous liquid afforded by several species of Dipterocarpus, deep brown, transparent, of nauseous odour, sometimes thick and white. The tree grows with a straight stem to the height of 30, 40, and 50 feet before it throws out branches, which grow horizontally, and produce flowers and seeds during the rainy season. If the seeds fall when there is a breeze of wind, they are carried a considerable distance, but very few of them germinate in a natural state. The oil is obtained by cutting a hole in the tree, about 3 feet from the ground, and about 4 to 5 inches deep, and the base is hollowed out to retain the oil. The whole of the hollow is cleared with fire, without which no oil exudes ; after it is cleared, the oil exudes, collects in the hollow at the base, and is removed at intervals. The oil is thus extracted year after year, and sometimes there are two or three holes in the same tree, and the tree does not die. The oil is allowed to
settle, when the clear part separates from a thick portion, which is called the Guad. If a growing tree be felled and cut into pieces, the oil exudes and concretes on the stein and ends of the pieces, very much resembling camphor, with an aromatic smell also. It is said that the tree yields from 3 to 5 maunds yearly, i.e. 240 to 400 pounds, and the same tree will yield oil for several years. It is a good balsamic medicine, and is very generally used as a substitute for copaiba ; but it would be more valuable as a varnish. It is preservative to wood, to which it gives, with little trouble of application, a fine surface and polish ; it becomes, however, white and milky if exposed to wet. It can be had in Chittagong in large quantities at Rs. 10 per maund.—Local Committee, Chittagong.