Other Balsamodendron products are described 'leder B,.1m of Gilead and Myrrh (pp. 1636,1674).
Benzoin or Benjamin (Fa., Benjoin; GEn., Benzue).—The Eaglish comtnercial name of this resin, " benjtunin," i8 a vulgar corruption of " honzoin," itself derived from the corrupted form bonjawi of the old Arabic 11111110 Wan OW, or " Java frankincense." The form "benzoiu " is like wise applied to o product (C,41-1,202) of the treatment of bitter-almond-oil with alcoholic solution of potash.
The resin benzoin is obtained partly from Styrax Benzoin, a tree indigenous to or introduced into Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Siam, and Cochin China. There are reasons for supposing that S. suldenticut 4,r, of IV. Sumatra, and S. Finl«ysoniana contribute somewhat to the several qualities of the resin, but nothing dellinte is known on the subject. Almost equal ignorance prevails as to the distrihution of the benzoiu-yielding tr. e or trees. Crawfurd's statement that benzoiu is collected on the N. coast of Borneo, in the Brunei district, is negatived by its absence fiona all official returns of the trade of tho island. The only two countries which can with certainty be said to afford the resin aro Sumatra and Siam.
Tho tree yielding Sumatra benzoin, called kaminian by the Malays, is found in the N. and E. portions of tho island, uvccially in the Batta country, north of the equator, but not in the Aeltitiese territory innuediat. ly beyond. It is also met with in some abundance in the highlands of Palem bang, in the south, where its product is likewise collected, though said by Marsden to be in small quantity, and of dark and inferior quality. The resin brought from the interior is mostly from wild trees, growing on the mouutain spurs at 300-1000 ft. But in the coast regions, considerable care and attention tire devoted to the cultivation of the tree, in regular plantations, or on the edges of the rice-fields. The trecs are rais d from sued, and grow rapully. The seedlings are kept clear of other plants, and generally attain a diameter of 6-8 in. at the 7th year. The first incisions (longi tudinal or oblique) are now rnade in the bark, whence exudes a thick. whitish, resinous juice, which soon concretes in the air, and may be scraped off. The best product, locally termed " head,"
is that which is obtained from the incisions of the first 3 years ; it contains more of the yellowish white tears, and is softer and more fragrant. During the next 7-9 years, the exudation becomes moro reddi,h-yellow or browu, and is known as belly " or 2nds. The yield averages 3 lb. annually. Filially, the exhausted tree is cut down, split in pieces, and scraped to afford the 3rd plant), or " foot," which is dark-coloured, hard, end mixed with much wood-parings and other impurities. The product is carried down to the ports in large e,akes (tampangs) covered with matting. It there undergoes preparation for market. According to Marsden, the " head" or lets is divided into " Europe" and " India," the former only corning into Western commerce, while the latter, with tile bully " and " foot " (2nds and 3rds), goes to Arabia, Persia, India, and Malaysia, to he burnt as an incense in temples and as a deodorizer in dwelliags. The " Europe-head" is softened for packing in cubical, wooden chests, sun-heat suffieing for the finer grades, while boiling water ett cts the same purpose with the coarser qualities.
1.. ss is known regarding the origin and production of Siam benzoin. Its distinct dissimilarity froni the Sumatra article would infer its derivation from another species of Styrax, but botanists are igt.orant of the facts. The distribution of the plant is also a matter of great uncertainty. Moore states that it la found only in the N. provinces of Siam, and in Laos. A French expedition in 1866-8 reported the production of the resin in the cassia-yielding forests on the E. bank of the Mekong river, N. lat. 19°. Some of the Siam benzoin is obtained by gashing tbe bask all over, and leaving the exuding resin to collect and harden between the bark and the wood, the former being then stripped off; but all is not thus procured. The product is conveyed in small baaketa on bullock-back to the Menam river, and thus floated down to Bangkok, where it is packed in cubical boxes exactly like the Sumatra kind. It is said to be exclusively of the " head" quality.