42 



PHILIPPINE RESINS, GUMS, AND OILS 



ngin or pagsahingin (Rizal, Bataan) ; palsahingin (Laguna, Bataan) ; pili 

 (Tayabas, Masbate, Laguna, Mindoro, Rizal, Marinduque, Tarlac, Bataan, 

 Albay, Sorsogon) ; 2»sa (Cavite) ; sailing (Bataan); tugtugin (Tayabas). 



MANILA ELEMI 



The name elemi is a term applied to a variety of resinous 

 products obtained from different countries and having different 

 botanical origins. There appears, however, to be little doubt 

 that the species concerned all belong to the family Burseraceae. 

 The greater part of the world's supply is derived from the Phil- 

 ippine Islands, and is known as Manila elemi. It is obtained 

 from the trunk of Canariinn luzoniciim and is known locally by 

 the Spanish term brea blanca (white pitch). 



Brea of the best quality is soft, sticky, opaque, slightly yellow 

 in color, has a very agreeable resinous odor, and burns with a 

 smoky flame. It is used locally as a varnish, for caulking boats, 

 and for torches. As the brea is very sticky, in preparing the 

 torches, it is usually gathered in the most convenient way pos- 

 sible regardless of dirt and chips, and then kneaded on the 

 ground by beating it with a piece of wood. When enough dirt 

 has been mixed with it to make it stiff, it is rolled into shape 

 and wrapped in a leaf of the anahau palm (Livistona). Near 

 the forest, these torches are usually sold for 1 centavo each, 

 but in towns they are retailed for about 3 centavos each. They 

 give a very brilliant light and burn for a long time. 



Manila elemi is exported from the Philippines in considerable 

 quantities. The exports for the past five years are given in 

 Table 4. 



Table 4. — Aynount and value of Manila elemi exported from the Philippines 



from 191Jt to 1918. 



Some of the resin is shipped from Manila to Europe for use 

 in preparing medicinal ointments and, to a smaller extent, in 

 the manufacture of varnish; while much of the product is 

 sent to China and is there used for making transparent paper 



