234 Dr Hancock on Resinous and Balsamic 



which grows plentifully upon the sides of the mountains and 

 high grounds of the interior, and especially on the Macosy 

 mountains and those of Parima where I travelled in 1810 

 and 1811. 



The tree has a tall straight trunk, covered with a rough 

 bark, and attains to a very considerable size, often measuring 

 eight or ten feet in circumference. 



The leaves are oblong, smooth, and pointed. 



The wood resembles mahogany in colour and texture, but 

 is less ponderous. It is an aromatic wood similar to cedar, and 

 is so called by the wood-cutters high up the rivers. 



I am unable, however, to give a systematic description of 

 the tree, never having seen the flower. The seeds which I 

 picked up as they fell from the tree and sowed after my return, 

 did not vegetate. They were blackish, of oval form, near the 

 size of peas, and inclosed in oval capsules. 



I believe the tree to be a species of Cedrela, Anniba of Aub- 

 let, or a species of Amyris. 



The gum resin, as I take it to be, besides exuding sponta- 

 neously, is also procured by making an incision in the trunk, 

 and is then given out very copiously. 



This gum, when recently procured from the tree, or well 

 preserved from the air, exhales an extremely fragrant odour. 

 The Macosis collect and wrap it in palm leaves in oblong 

 rolls. 



M. Humboldt, in his Personal Narrative ^ vol. v. p. 258, 

 observes, that " the Carana is a resin strongly odoriferous and 

 white as snow,"" &c. — This, however, is not Carana, but Hyowa, 

 most common here as well as on the Rio Negro, whence it is 

 brought to Angostura for sale. 



continuance of his health in these distant regions to which he intends to 

 return." 



(The President then addressed Dr Hancock, and presented to him 

 the Gold Medal.) 



Another paper of great curiosity and merit was also written by Dr Han- 

 cock on the Vandrella diffusa^ a decoction of which acts as an emetic, and 

 is employed to cure both continued and intermittent fevers; and that 

 plant was also used by him, and with favourable results, in chronic disor- 

 ders of the liver. In these cases it would be very desirable to find an 

 effectual substitute for those mercurial preparations which may be danger- 

 ous in their application. — Ec 



