606 Mr. Don on the Plant which yields the Gum Ammoniacum. 



plant, which abounds in the mountains in the south of Persia, 

 particularly in the province of Lar.'" 



The gum is collected about the middle of June ; a tenth is 

 remitted as tribute to the Government; the rest is sent to 

 Bushire on the Persian Gulf, and thence to Europe. Part 

 of that imported to this country came from the Levant; but 

 Mr. S. F. Gray, P.L.S. informs me that the largest quantity 

 and the best comes by way of India. 



For the following particulars I am indebted to Major Wil- 

 lock, who has visited the districts where the plant grows wild. 

 " The Ooshak or gum Ammoniacum plant grows in great abun- 

 dance over the arid plains in the vicinity of the town of Jezud 

 Khast, on the borders of the provinces of Fars and Irak. Jezud 

 Khast is a district appertaining to the Government of Ispahan. 

 The plant is perennial, and throws up from the root a cluster of 

 leaves, and one or more strong vigorous naked stems, of three 

 or four feet in height, divided into joints of five or six inches 

 long, throwing out various branches of equal length. The 

 white juice which forms the gum pervades the whole plant, 

 but exudes chiefly from the principal stems. It either remains 

 on them in lumps, or, falling to the ground, is gathered by 

 the villagers in the autumn, and is sold by them. The Ooshak 

 plant is to be met with nowhere but in the province of Irak, 

 growing in very dry plains, gravelly soils, and exposed to an 

 ardent sun." 



XXXIV. O 



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