. 
Aquilarinee.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 173, 
by the liberality of the East-India Company, Dr. Lindley had an opportunity of exa- 
mining the fructification, of which he has given the most correct description in his 
valuable Introd. to the Natural System, p. 77, and has with his usual liberality favoured 
me with the dissections which accompany the figure from Dr. Hamilton’s drawings. 
It is much to be regretted, that Mr. Finlayson, in his visit to Siam, was unable to 
obtain specimens of the tree producing the agila-wood, as he would not probably have 
referred even in his unrevised journal, to both Roxburgh and Loureiro for the botanical 
descriptions of the plant, as there is no doubt, from microscopical examination of the 
wood, that the several kinds of Agallochum must be the produce of different genera. 
_ But it is remarkable how nearly the plant which affords the Calambac of Cochin- 
china approaches in its locality to that from which the agila-wood of Chantibond is * 
obtained, as the latter is nearly in the latitude, and (taking the Mei-kong as the great 
river alluded to) also in the longitude assigned by Loureiro to the Calambac (v. Supra ;) 
and “« the agila-wood of Chantibond is reckoned among the best, and only equalled by 
that of Cochin-china.” (Fink. p.258.) It is there called nuga-mai and mai-hoam, also 
kisna, Macul. Dict. of Commerce, where it is stated that it is produced in the greatest 
quantity and perfection in the countries and islands on the east coast of the Gulf of 
Siam. : 
Mr. Finlayson informs us, that the consumption of this highly-odoriferous substance 
is very considerable, even in Siam, but the greatest part is exported to China. The 
consumption in the latter is extensive, though used chiefly in a very economical mode : 
the wood being reduced to a fine powder, and mixed with a gummy substance, is laid 
over a small slip of soft wood, about the size of a bull-rush, so as to form a pretty thick 
coating. These are lighted in their temples, and give out a feeble but grateful perfume. 
We are informed by M.M. Merat and Delens, that the aloe or eagle-wood was burned 
as incense by Napoleon in the imperial palace. 
In conclusion, it may be stated that I agree with Mr. Finlayson in considering that 
there does not appear sufficient foundation for the » hearsay opinion of the odoriferous 
principle of agila-wood being the effect *of disease. Pieces of apparently the most 
sound wood display the cells gorged with the fragrant resin, which is most probably 
deposited in the largest quantities in the internal central wood, the amount of which 
may therefore depend upon age and a favourable soil ; but this can only be ascertained 
by observation on living trees. Should this explanation be correct, the result would 
be to prove the practicability of cultivating this tree more extensively on our eastern 
frontier with an assurance of a favourable result, and prove the utility of minute 
observations of a scientific nature, even by the practical deductions to which they lead. 
Aquilaria Agallocha ; Roxb, FI. Ind. 2. p. 422. Wall. Cat. 7250. v. Tab. 36. f. 1.—(a.) A branch 
in flower. (b.) Ditto with unripe fruit from Dr, Hamilton’s drawings. (c,) An expanded flower, 
shewing the downy surface of the calyx, and its five reflexed segments ; together with the ten woolly 
scales which arise from its orifice, and the stamens which alternate with them. (d.) The same, cut 
open, the pistil being abstracted. From this it is seen that the inside of the calyx is lined with the ten 
scaly woolly processes, which are free at their upper extremity, as shewn at fig. c. but which adhere to 
the 
