ALOE 7 



things agreeing to that description of Dioscorides in 

 seed, stalke, etc. It is yet all of a red pricklie sort, and 

 much chamfered 1 in the leaves, so full of a resin-iuyce 

 that it is ready to breake with it. The chief e time to 

 make it, is when the winds blowe northerly, that is, 

 about September, and that after the fall of some raine, 

 which being then gathered, they cut in small pieces, 

 and cast into a pit made in the ground, well cleansed 

 from filth and paved; there it lieth to ferment in the 

 heat of the sunne, whereby it floweth forth. Thence 

 they take and put it in skinnes, which they hang up in 

 the wind to dry, where it becommeth hard. They sold 

 us for 20 Rials a Quintall which is 103 pounds English, 

 but we were after told that they sold to others for 12, 

 which considering the abundance and easie making, 

 may be credible." 



Elsewhere the statement is made that "the Aloe of 

 Socotra exceedeth in goodnesse that which is gathered 

 in Hadhramut of the land of Jaman, Arabia, or any- 

 where else." 



From the same authority we learn that 1800 pounds 

 of Socotrine aloes were bought at one time, and 2722 

 pounds at another. 



The ancient trade of the island has never increased, 

 and in 1833, we are informed, only two tons were ex- 

 ported. At present the manufacture and export seem 

 to have ceased altogether, due no doubt to unfavorable 

 local conditions, as well as to the intrusive competition 

 of other countries. In the 16th century, or perhaps 

 before, the aloe plant was introduced into the West 

 Indies, Lignon, (383) 1763, dwelling especially on its 

 having occurred in Barbados as early as 1647-1650, 



.1 Grooved. 



