a 



DR. F. WELWITSCH ON THE GUM COPAL IN ANGOLA. 293 



white, some of honey or gold-colour, and others are distinguished 

 by an intense reddish orange-colour. The general appearance of 

 the pure pieces of this resin, especially the gold-coloured kind, 

 has a delusive resemblance to Amber, with which, though much 

 softer, it has the common properties of igniting and of becoming 

 electrical by friction. I am satisfied that the Angola Copal is 

 capable of being used and worked up into ornamental articles in 

 the same way as Amber, from a specimen which was finished by 



turner at Loando, w^ho had but a scanty knowledge of the 

 treatment of Amber. The interior of the Angola Copal pieces, 

 when not mixed with earthy substances, or with remains of bark, 

 IS even glossy and transparent ; but I have never observed insects 

 in any of the numerous samples which, partly in Angola and 

 partly at Lisbon, came under my notice ; whilst in the Copal sent 

 to Lisbon from the province of Mossambique, on the east coast 

 of Tropical Africa, various hymenopterous insects are to be met 

 with. The different colours of the Copal of Angola just described 

 are connected, more or less, with its availability for varnishes, 

 &c. Thus the Copal-dealers distinguish three sorts, viz. : 



1. Eed Copal Gum (Gomma Copal vermellia). 



2: Yellow (G. C. amareUa). 



3. "Whitish (G. C. bianca). 

 The red and reddish sorts furnish the best and finest varnish, 

 and therefore are most in request and the dearest, whilst the 

 whitish quality is sold at the lowest price. 



Shortly before I left Loando, the market-value of the different 

 qualities was stated, in the Price Current issued by the Chamber 

 of Commerce, as follows : 



1. Gomma Copal vermellia 1 arroba (32 lb.) =6500 reis* 



2. Gomma Copal amarella 1 arroba = 5500 to 6000 reis. 



3. Gomma Copal bianca 1 arroba=3000 to 3500 reis, 



4. Gomma Copal picada 1 arroba = 2000 reis. 

 The last named chiefly consists of the smaller soiled pieces of the 

 three better qualities. 



The export of Gum Copal from Angola as an article of trade 

 commenced, as stated by the register of the Custom House (Al- 

 fandega Grande), during the years 1820-1825 ; but it is not until 

 1825 that any considerable quantity (e. g. 833 lb.) is quoted as 

 having been imported thence. From that time the export of 

 C^um Copal from Angola has increased from year to year; ho 



• Exchange : 7000 reis Angola are equal to 4500 reis Lisbon Talue, or £1 

 sterling. 



