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which yields the Gum Ammoniacum. 605 
give a particular description of the plant, flower, and seed; 
but he brought away a root, with a piece of the stem and some 
dry leaves attached, and which I have forwarded in a box to 
your address. You will observe the account of the plant is 
dated in July 1822, though I only received it a short time 
ago. 
** * Description of the Oshac, or Gum Ammoniac Plant. 
*** [t having been intimated to me while at Bushire, by the 
Resident, Captain Bruce, that the plant which produces the 
gum Ammoniac,—called by the Persians Oshac,—would be 
acceptable to botanists, as it was but imperfectly known, I 
procured the accompanying piece of stem, leaf, and flower, 
and took a drawing of one of the finest plants. Its height was 
seven feet two inches, and the circumference of the lower part 
of the stem four inches. It grows principally on the plains 
between Yerdekaust and Kumisha, in the province of Irauk, 
without cultivation. The gum is so abundant, that upon the 
slightest puncture being made, it instantly oozes forth, even at 
the ends of the leaves. When the plant has attained perfection, 
innumerable beetles, armed with an anterior and posterior probe 
of half an inch in length, pierce it in all directions; it soon 
becomes dry, and is then picked off, and sent vid Bushire to 
India and various parts of the world, and is an article of con- 
siderable export. I am of opinion it might be cultivated with 
success in many parts of Kattywar, and the experiment might 
be worth the consideration of Government. The gum might 
easily be procured by artificial means, which would answer the 
purpose equally well. __ 
** * From the part of the stem attached to the roots of the spe- 
cimen I sent you, a considerable portion of the gum will be 
seen exuded, in which respect it resembles the Assafoetida 
plant, 
