136 



STORAX. 



1857. 



Account by 



Dr. X. 

 Landerer. 



Erroneous 

 information. 



The Storax plant is called in Cos and Ehodes 

 (bucJi'A'n). At its flowering season, it fills the air with the most 

 agreeable vanilla-like perfume. At the period for the collec- 

 tion of the bark and younger twigs, which are employed for the 

 preparation of Buchuri-jag, i.e. Styrax-oil (oil being called in 

 Turkish, jag}, permission is obtained from the Pasha residing 

 at Rhodes, a small sum being paid for it. Those who are pro- 

 vided with the permission to collect, now make with small 

 knives longitudinal incisions and peel off from the stem the 

 fresh pieces of bark in the form of little narrow ribbons. 

 Owing to their adhesive juice they easily stick together [backen 

 sie leicht zusammen] ; from them are formed masses of one oJce 

 weight (= 21bs.), which are reserved for the preparation of jag, 

 or aro immediately purchased by Ehodian merchants and sent to 

 Ehodes. 



The preparation of Buchuri-jag is effected by merely pressing 

 the before-mentioned masses in presses somewhat warmed, 

 called Styralda, and not by boiling. The jag obtained by gentle 

 pressure is of an unctuous consistence, a light grey colour, and 

 diffuses a very agreeable vanilla-like odour. This is the only 

 sort that is exported ; but in Cos and Ehodes, it is also used in 

 the preparation of a very odoriferous mass made by the addition 

 of finely-powdered Olibanum and formed into cakes of the size 

 of a fist, which are called StyraJcia. The preparation of these 

 masses belongs exclusively to the conventual clergy, who dis- 

 tinguish their manufacture with the convent seal. 



By repeated warming and stronger pressure, an almost black 

 Buchuri-jag is obtained, which is used by the inhabitants them- 

 selves for the most healing ointments and medicines. 



The bark remaining after the expression of the jag is bound 

 together and conveyed partly to Constantinople and partly to 

 Syra and there used for fumigation. 



With regard to the decoction of the bark and the adulteration of 

 Styrax-balsam with turpentine, the Ehodian merchant assured 

 me that they would not know how to go about it ; and that the 

 adulteration with turpentine might, in case of detection, involve 

 even the punishment of death. 



[Note aJ] The Storax trees appear at that place to be of 

 important value, and are given to the young women as dowry, 

 in the same manner as in Greece the bride is presented with so 

 many Olive-trees. 



That Dr. Landerer has been greatly deceived by his informant 

 will, I think, be very evident from the subjoined testimonies : 



