316 IHYMELACEJE, [Aquilar'ut. 



2. AQUILARIA, Lam. 



Two species only of this genus are known from India, viz., A. Agallocha, here 

 described, and A. malaccensis, Lamk. ; Kurz ii. 336, from Tenasserim, which, accord- 

 ing to Meissner, is the " Garo de Malacca" or Malacca Eagle wood. There is still some 

 doubt about the identification of the species of Aquilaria which yields the Eagle- 

 wood of commerce. Roxburgh says the A. Agallochi is an immense tree, a native of 

 the mountains east and south-east of Sylhet between 24 and 25 north latitude. 

 " There can be little doubt that this is the tree which furnishes the real Calambac or 

 Agallochum of the ancients, and there seems more reason to think that it was carried 

 to China from our eastern frontier than to suppose it was carried from Cochin China 

 or any other country in the vicinity of China, where it has alwavs been in great 

 demand. Small quantities are sometimes imported into Calcutta by sea from the 

 eastward ; but such is always deemed inferior to that of Sylhet." Kurz seems to con- 

 sider the Sylhet and the Tenasserim tree as the same species, and as the structure of 

 the wood of both is identical, there is a strong probability of his view being correct. 

 Further investigation, however, is necessary to ascertain if the species described by 

 Eoxburgh as growing in Assam and Sylhet (A. Agallocha) is identical with the tree 

 furnishing the Akyau wood of Burma. As far as our account is concerned, we shall 

 only speak of one species. 



1. A. Agallocha, Roxb. Fl. Ind. 422 ; Brandis 387 ; Kurz ii. 335. 

 Lign Aloes or Eaglewood. Vern. Ugur, Hind., Beng. ; Sasi, Ass.; 

 Akyau j Burm. ; Kayu garu 3 Malay ; Nwahmi, Siam ; Nyaw-chah, 

 Chinese; Kihay, sinnah, Cingb. 



A large evergreen tree. Wood wbite, soft, even-grained, scented 

 when fresh cut. In tbe interior of old trees are found irregular masses 

 of harder and darker coloured wood, which constitute the famous Eagle- 

 wood of commerce, called Kay a garu by tbe Malays, and Akyau by the 

 Burmese. Pores small and moderate-sized, in short radial lines. Me- 

 dullary rays fine, numerous ; tbe distance between two consecutive rays 

 less tban tbe transverse diameter of the pores. Numerous short transverse 

 bands of pores and intercellular ducts filled with a brownish substance. 



Eastern Bengal, Burma, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 



Growth moderate, 8 rings per inch of radius. Weight, Kyd gives 20 Ibs. ; our 

 specimen 25 Ibs. per cubic foot. Kyd gives P = 2C3. A description of Eagle- 

 wood and its method of collection is given in extracts from Mr. Lee's reports given 

 at p. 80 of the Burma Forest Report for 1 875-76, and at p. 19 of the Burma 1 

 Report for 1876-77. From these it appears that the Akyau is the most important 

 forest produce of the forests of South Tenasserim and the Mergui Archipelago. It is 

 found in fragments of various shapes and sizes in the centre of the tree, and usually, if 

 not always, where some former injury has been received. To collect it the trees are 

 felled and allowed to rot for about three years in the forest, when they are again visited, 

 the tree cut into fragments, and the odoriferous wood cut out. Mr. Lee says that 

 most usually the Akyau is found iu the sapwood. 



]1>S. 



E 951. Golaghat, Assam 21 



B 1948. Tavoy 2:* 



B 2485. . 29 



ORDER LXXXVIII. EL^EAGNEJE. 



Contains 2 gonora only, Bfaaffnu* and Hippopkat. 

 Pores small :md moderate-sized. Annual rings distinctly marked by 

 :i boll, of larger pores. ir//>jx>/>/nii ; has numerous uniform and lino 

 ii edullary rays, while Kltcmjuns has short rays of different width, which 

 in some species are broad. 



