250 ODOROGRAPHIA. 
Bassam Perv. 
This fragrant balsam is extracted from the trunk of the 
Myroxylon Pereire, Klotzsch (Myrospermum Pereire, Royle), 
a handsome tree of about 45 feet in height, the trunk rising 
to a height of 6 to 9 feet before putting forth its branches. 
It inhabits the western part of the State of San Salvador, 
on the Pacific coast of Central America, known as the “ Balsam 
Coast,” extending between 13° 35’ and 14° 10! N, lat., and 
89° and 89° 40’ W. long., a tract of land which formerly 
belonged to Guatemala. In this locality it is found growing wild 
in dense forests, but each tree has its particular owner; those 
which grow in clusters together are sometimes enclosed and those 
which grow singly are simply marked. They are sometimes 
let out for a certain number of years, or the produce of a certain 
number of trees may be contracted for. The principal towns and 
villages in the neighbourhood of the Balsam region are :—Juis- | 
nagua, Topecoyo or Coyo, Tamanique, Chiltinapan, Talnique, 
Jicalapa, Jayaque, Teotepeque, and Comasagua. 
The season for collecting the balsam commences in November. 
A portion of the bark on four sides of the tree is loosened by 
being well bruised with a hammer or the back of an axe, leaving 
between the parts so bruised four strips of similar size uninjured, 
so as to preserve the vitality of the tree. Then, to excite an 
abundant flow of balsam and facilitate the removal of the bark, it 
is usual in about five or six days after thus bruising it to char its 
outer surface by means of lighted torches, care being taken not to 
let them come in contact with the sap, the inflammability of which 
might cause the complete destruction of the tree. The torches 
are generally made of “chemaliate,’ a kind of resinous cane 
burning like a candle. After the lapse of about a week, the 
charred bark either falls off of its own accord, or is easily detached. 
The trunk then commences to exude the balsam, which is collected 
by wrapping rags round the naked wood and so soaking it up. 
After a few days, the rags being thoroughly saturated with balsam 
are thrown into an earthen vessel three parts full of boiling water, 
stirring them meanwhile. In a few honrs all the balsam will 
be extracted from the rags and sink to the bottom of the vesse!. 
From time to time the spent rags are withdrawn from the boiler, 
and replaced by others saturated by balsam. As the rags are 
