240 - On the Origin of Gum Sandarac, 
Tunis *. It was made known feveral years ago by Dr. — 
Shaw, who named it, Cypreffus fruétu quadrivalvi, Equifeta 
inflar articulatis; but neither of thefe learned men was. ac- 
quainted with the economical ule of this tree; probably be- 
caufe, being not common in the northern part of Barbary, 
the inhabitants -find little advantage in collecting the refin 
which exudes from it. This refin hitherto has been aferibed 
to the Juniperus communis, Juniperus Lycia, or the Cedar of 
Lebanon, without reflecting that the Juniperus communis 
does not grow in Africa, and Sandarac feems to belong eXx- 
clufively to that part of the world. M. Schoufboe, who faw 
the fpecies of Thuia in queftion, fays that it does not rife to 
more than the height of twenty or thirty feet at moft, and 
that the diameter of its trunk does not exceed ten or twelve 
inches. It diftinguifhes itfelf, on the firft view, from the 
-two other fpecies of the fame genus, cultivated in gardens, 
by having a very diftin& ‘runk, and the figure of a real tree ; 
whereas in the latter the branches rife from the root, which 
gives them the appearance rather of bufhes. Its branches 
alfo are more articulated and brittle. Its flowers, which are 
not very apparent, fhew themfelves in April; and the fruit, 
which are of a {pherical form, ripen in September. When 
a branch of this tree is held to the light, it appears to be in- 
terfperfed with a multitude of tranfparent veficles which con- 
tain the refin. When thefe veficles burft in the fummer 
months, a refinous juice exudes from the trunk and branches, 
4s is the cafe in other coniferous trees. This refin is the 
Sandarac, which is eolleGted by the inhabitants of the coun- 
try, and carried to the ports, from which it is tranfported ta 
Europe. It is employed in making fome kinds of fealing- 
wax, and in different forts of varnifh, In 1793 a hundred 
weight of it coft in Morocco from 13 to 13; piaftres, which 
make about 3/. 5s. to 3/. 7s, and 6d. fterling, The duty 
on exportation was about 7s. 6d. fterling per quintal. 
Sandarac, to be good, mutt be of a bright-yellow colour, 
pure and tranfparent, It is an article very dificult ta he 
* A complete defcription of it, with a good figure, may be found in 
his work entitled, SyaSol. Botan. Part IL. p, 96. Plate XLVI, under 
the name Thuia articuleta. 
adulterated, 
