DR. KIRK Olf THE COPAL OF ZANZIBAR. 3 



• The Tree-Copal, or " Anime" of the English markets, is un- 

 doubtedly the produce of forests now extinct ; for there is no tree 

 now growing at a distance from the coast which produces it. It is 

 obtained all along the ancient sea-beach, the maritime plain which 

 here fringes the continent to a depth of 20-40 miles in general. 

 Some spots are richer than others, and some soils indicate good 

 "diggings." When the rains which follow the north-east mon- 

 soon have softened the soil, the natives of the country commence 

 to dig this from small pits, searching the soil as removed; but 

 there is no system, and, like the gold-washings of Africa, so the 

 Copal-regions yield not a fraction of what a little system and 



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industry might produce. At present every clan-feud stops the 

 search. The producer receives, even when successful, only a 

 trifle from the Indian merchants, who again part with it, often 

 paying enormous dues to the Zanzibar State, to the European 



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and American traders. The supply, considering the extent over 

 w^hich it is scattered, seems unlimited ; for at present, with most 

 inadequate means and mucli discouragement to the labourers, the 

 amount obtained is very great. 



If we take into account the similarity of the recent and fossil 

 resins in appearance, their near approach in physical properties, 

 the fact that the recent gum, often being imbedded in sand, takes 

 the characteristic surface-markings, and recollect that where 

 now the good Copal is^dug as a fossil the present Copal-tree, 

 in all probability, once grew, when the sea was nearer to the hills 



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than now, I think w^e may be satisfied that the Trachylobimn 

 was the source of the old Copal, which is the resin only modified 

 by time and long exclusion from air and light under the ground. 

 Perhaps it may be asked, Is there not proof in the gum itself 

 that the Trachylohium then existed? I have as yet found none : 

 insects (all of them aerial) are often preserved ; sometimes branches 

 and leaves ; but I have not seeii evidence of the Copal-tree. When 

 we remember that the resin soon hardens after being exuded, and 

 that it runs from the underside of the main limbs, while the 

 leaves, flowers, and fruit are at the extremities of the branches, we 

 shall see that leaves of the underwood which sweep the lower 

 branches are much more likely to be embalmed than the leaf 

 of the tree itself, which, besides, is hairy, glossy, and unlikely to 

 adhere. If a part of the modern tree were found in i\\Q old 

 hard gum, the proof would be complete; at present some doubt 



remauis. 



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