174 BOTANICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. 



1859. are very imperfectly acquainted. It is, therefore, desirable 

 to procure specimens of such plants from various parts of the 

 West Coast of Africa. These specimens should comprise the 

 flowers and fruits, as well as the foliage. As the flowers are 

 very delicate, it is necessary to preserve some specimens in 

 spirit of wine or in dilute acetic acid. Some specimens of the 

 fruits should also be preserved in the same manner. As the 

 specimens often grow intermixed, and as flowers and fruits are 

 produced at different seasons, special care is requisite to avoid 

 confusion. 



KOKARIMA CARDAMOM is the name under which the late Dr. 

 Pereira has described an Abyssinian cardamom, having the shape 

 and size of a small fig, which is exported from Mussowah, a port 

 at the southern end of the Eed Sea. This drug, which has 

 long been known in medicine, is perforated at the smaller end, 

 and when strung upon a cord, is commonly used by the Arabs 

 and Abyssinians as beads for their mesbelias or rosaries. It is 

 said to be brought to the market of Baso in Southern Abyssinia 

 from Tunine*, a country situated in about 9 N. lat. and 35 E. 

 Ion. The plant for which the name Amomum Korarima has 

 been proposed is entirely unknown. 



OLIBANUM. The Olibanum found in European commerce is 

 believed to be produced partly on the African coast near Cape 

 Gardafui, and partly on the southern coast of Arabia, whence it 

 is shipped to Bombay. 



Olibanum is also produced in India by certain species of Bos- 

 wellia called Salai or Saleh, one of which is B. glabra, Eoxb., 

 another B. thurifera, Colebr. It is extremely doubtful if the 

 Olibanum afforded in India by these trees finds its way to 

 Europe, but information on this point is desired. 



African Olibanum is yielded by a tree called Plossleafloribunda, 

 Endl. (Boswellia, Koyle) ; but as the drug varies considerably in 

 appearance, it is highly probable that it is obtained from more 

 than one species. The variety called Lubdn Mattee, from its 

 being shipped at Bunder Mattee, is, for instance, a very different 

 drug from ordinary Olibanum. A resident at Aden may be able 



