OF PRODUCTION OF ALOES-WOOD. 8j 



the Calamba, except when counterfeited by the ex- 

 ternal application of hot irons, which the druggists 

 use, to give it the appearance of the genuine Ca- 

 lamba. That Pao de Aguila which is the heaviest, 

 and sinks in water, is esteemed the best ; though I 

 have found pieces of lefs specific gravity, and not 

 so dark coloured, which had however a very strong 

 and pleasant smell. ( 



There is one sort of a pale hue, which is taken 

 from trees, long perished, and which have 

 by exposure to the weather, lost much of its 

 fragrance and virtue ; this is called by the natives 

 Huong-tu, or dead Aloes-wood. Another sort of 

 an ash-colour, called Huong-sinh, or living Aloes- 

 wood, is superior to this ; being obtained from 

 trees still living, or newly dead, and consequently 

 in better preservation. 



A third species, called by the natives simply 

 Huong (perfume), is the least valuable, as well in 

 regard to specific gravity, as in scent and virtue ; 

 it is taken from trees in which it had scarcely 

 begun to form. This species is entirely white 

 inside, as is the sound part of the tree, or it con- 



