176 ; ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Terebinthacee. 
India. B. Opobalsamum, to which M. Kunth more particularly refers the Balessan of 
Bruce, and the figure of Prosper Alpinus, is perhaps on ly a variety of the former, 
affording a similar product. B. (Amyris, Forsk.) Kataf and Kafal, are also nearly 
allied, if not identical species; both are natives of Arabia, and both give out a most 
fragrant balsamic odour. The wood of B. kafal is an article of considerable commerce, 
according to Forskal, and‘ is that probably which is given in Indian bazars as the 
aod-i-balessan. Forskal also mentions that he had heard of two other trees, which are 
like these; one the shujrut-ul-murr, or myrrh-tree, and the other called khudush. — 
The myrrh-tree, which for so many ages has remained unknown, appears at last to 
have been identified by Messrs. Ehrenberg and Hemprich, naturalists of Berlin, who 
collected some myrrh off the plant itself in Arabia, near Gison. This shrub belongs 
also to the genus Balsdmodendron, and has been called B. myrrha. It is figured by 
Nees Von Esenbeck, officinaler pflanzen 17 leifer, and is said to have been found growing 
with Acacias, Euphorbias, and Moringas. In Persian works, myrrh is said to be the 
produce of Africa and the island of Socotra, as well as of Arabia. By Mr. Bruce the 
myrrh-tree is described as growing behind Azab, along the coast towards the straits of 
Babelmandel. Though it would be desirable to have the information confirmed respecting 
the tree yielding myrrh, yet it is not in consequence of its not explaining the production 
of East-India myrrh, as hinted by Messrs.Merat and De Lens, for ‘‘ the Abyssinian 
myrrh,” as stated by my friend, Dr. Thomson, “ comes to us through the East-Indies, 
“while that produced in Arabia is brought by the way of Turkey.” But it is very 
difficult to ascertain the exports or imports of any of the eastern ports; for in the lists of 
the former, printed for the use of European merchants, we frequently see articles which 
we know have been previously imported in Arab ships from a variety of places. 
Though there does not appear any reason for supposing that myrrh is produced in any 
part of India, yet there is a substance having the closest resemblance to it, which is 
imported into and known in Europe as Indian myrrh. This is also said very closely to 
resemble, if indeed it at all differs from Bdellium: it is probable, therefore, that it is 
what in India is known by the name of googul (moogl of the Arabians), as it forms the 
Baellium of commerce, and resembles an inferior kind of myrrh, as indeed Bdellium is 
frequently described to be, That it is also the Bdelliun of the ancients would appear 
from the Persian authors giving budleyoon and madikoon as the Greek names of moogl, 
Hindee googul, evidently the 63:Aawy and pxd:husy of Dioscorides. The tree which 
yields the googul has not yet been ascertained, but in the Saharunpore Botanic Garden 
' there is a small tree called by this name, which I was informed was said to pro- 
duce the drug of that name. As this had never flowered, I regret having deferred 
inquiring into its history, but believe it had been introduced from Nujeebabad. This, 
however, is unimportant, as I am well satisfied from the general character of the plant, 
and especially its bark separating in strips, like the birch, that this must be the Amyris 
Commiphora of Dr. Roxburgh. (Fl. Ind. 2. p. 244.) A. agallocha (Cal. Cat. p. 28) of 
which he gives googula as the native name. The characters of this species agree in _ 
every 
