434 ON GRASS-TREE GUM, 



who still use it as a cement, as has already been mentioned. For 

 the earliest actual allusions to the resin of X. hastilis, I am 

 indebted to B irton's " History of New South Wales," pages 280 

 and 504. 



On the 15th of May, 1788, Governor Phillip alludes to " the 

 yellow gum which is found on the dwarf palm tree." 



On the 18th of November of the same year "an officer of 

 Marines " speaks of " some of which have been used medicinally 

 with success by the surgeon, Mr. Considen, particularly the yellow 

 gum, a substitute for balsam of tolu." The statement is hard to 

 comprehend, as grass-tree "gum" is as unlike balsam of tolu as 

 it can possibly be, nor has its use in medicine been continued. 



Both Surgeon-General White and Governor Phillip notice it in 

 the books they wrote on the Colony. Following are their state- 

 ments : — 



" The Yellow Resin Tree. 



"But the most valuable produce of this plant seems to be its 

 resin, the properties of which vie with those of the most fragrant 

 balsams. The resin exudes spontaneously from the trunk ; the 

 more i-eadily if incisions are made in its bark.* It is of a yellow 

 colour ; fluid at first, but being inspissated in the sun, it acquii'es 

 a solid form. Burnt on hot coals it emits a smell very much 

 resembling that of a mixture of balsam of tolu and benzoin, some- 

 what approaching to storax. It is perfectly soluble in spirit of 

 wine, but not in water, nor even in essential oil of turpentine, 

 unless it be digested in a strong heat. The varnish which it 

 makes with ether is very weak, and of little use. With respect 

 to its medicinal qualities, Mr. White has found it in many cases a 

 good pectoral medicine, and very balsamic." (Dr. James Smith, in 

 "Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales," by John White, Esq., 

 Sui'geon-General to the Settlement, 1790, p. 235. No figure of 

 this plant is given, but some old basal leaves are figured.) 



In " The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay," 1790, a 

 crude figure of this Xantliorrhcea is given, and (p. 51), concerning 

 the resin, it says ..." in appearance it strongly resembles 



*I have never heard of a Xanthorrhma being subjected to this treatment. 

 It has no bark, but shows scars of leaves like a tree-fern. 



