EAGLE-WOOD. This is a highly fragrant wood, much esteemed by Asiatics for burning as incense, and known in Europe by its pre sent designation ever since the Portuguese visited and imported the substance diiect from the Malayan islands and the kingdom of Siam, where it has always been abundant, and long established as an article of corn coerce. The Malayan nameis Agile, whence the wood was called Pao dAgila by the Por tuguese, and has since been converted into Pao d'Agaila, and Pao d'Aquila, Bois d'Aiyle, and Eagle Wood. The term eagle wood is also applied to the wood knownto the ancients by the name of Agalloehum.
Of the two kinds of agallochum which are most valued, and both considered genuine, one is distinguished by the name of Calambac, and the other as the Garo of Malacca. Ca. lambac appears, as far as hitherto known, to be a native of Cochin China only, growing on the mountains of that country in about 13° of N. lat. It has been described as a lofty tree with erect stem and branches, long lanceolate shining leaves, and terminal bunches of flowers. The other kind, Garo, to which the name of Eagle Wood is more frequently applied, has, long been an article of export from Malacca and the kingdom of Siam.
Specimens of the tree which yield this were first obtained by M. Sonnerat in his second voyage to India, from which probably have been given the figure and description by Lamarck. The fragrant nature of genuine agile or eagle wood is well known, and that it has from very early periods been employed both by the natives of India and of China as incense. Mr. Finlayson, in his visit to Siam, says, that the consumption of this highly odo riferons wood is very considerable in Siam, but that the greatest part is exported to China. In China it is used in a very econo mical manner. The wood being reduced to a fine powder, and mixed with a gummy sub stance, is laid over a small slip of wood, about the size of a bullrush, so as to form a pretty thick coating. This is lighted, and gives out a feeble but grateful perfume. Eagle wood was burned as a perfume by Napoleon in the imperial palace.