144 Report on the Island of Socotra. [MarcM, 



the island the hills for an extent of several miles are now so thickly stud- 

 ded with it, that it is not likely even at any future period that the whole 

 of that which might be, will be collected. The quantity reported within 

 the last few yeai-s has varied very much ; in 1833 it amounted to 83 skins, 

 or about two tons. Next in importance to the aloe comes the Dragon's 

 blood tree, Pterocarpus Draco, the gum from which, Sanguis Draconix, is 

 also collected by the Bedouins at all seasons. As this gum is known to be 

 produced by several trees, and the species on which it is found in Socotra 

 may not therefore be known in Europe, I shall give a short account of it. 

 Like the aloe it is usually met with on the limestone hills, rarely at a less 

 elevation than 800, and sometimes as much as 2000, feet above the level of 

 the sea ; but it is never found on the plains. The trunk is usually about 

 12 inches in diameter, and its height varies from 10 to 12 feet ; the 

 branches are numerous, but short and thickly interwoven with each other. 

 The leaves are of a coriaceous structure, and about 12 inches in length ; 

 they are of a sword-like form, pointed at the extremity, and somewhat ex- 

 tended at the base, where they are sessile and somewhat resemble those of 

 the pine-apple. In this part they are connected with the branch of the 

 tree, and radiating from it an indefinite number, they assume a fan-like 

 shape. These together form the upper part of the tree, and by the variety 

 in their shape and distribution, give rise to most fantastic appearances. 

 We were not sufficiently fortunate to obtain any specimen of the flower or 

 fruit, but Botanists describe it as belonging to the 1 7th class of Linnaeus, 

 and to the natural order Leguminosa. 



The gum exudes spontaneously from the tree, and it does not appear 

 usual, on any occasion, to make an incision for that purpose. Two kinds 

 were shown to me, of which that which is of a dark crimson color, called 

 " Moselle," is esteemed the best; its price at Muscat is from 6 to 8 rupees 

 the seile. Dragon's-blood is called by the Arabs Dum Khoheil, and Edah by 

 the Socotrians. I was frequentlyassured, that not more than a tenth of the 

 quantity which might be procured, was ever collected by the Bedouins ; but 

 this, as with the aloes, appears tobe owing to there beingno regular demand. 



From a tree, called in the language of the island, Amara, they procure a 

 light-colored gum, which is slightly odoriferous, but is much inferior to 

 that called Oliban, obtained on the Arabian coast. Sketches and descriptions 

 were taken of the other varieties of trees on the island, but as they do not 

 appear available for building, or any useful purpose, and are merely remark- 

 able for being indigenous to the island, I have not considered it necessary 

 to swell this paper with any remarks on them. A large collection of plants 

 was also made, and the Botanist on the granite peaks would yet meet 

 with a rich harvest. On the summit of these mountains the Bedouinscollect 

 a grey-colored moss, called Shennah, which is used by the Arab females to 

 dye their faces of a yellow color. It adheres firmly to the granite spires, 

 the whole surface of which is covered with it ; they thus receive a coloring 

 which is not their own, but which is not however far removed from it. As 

 agriculture is almost wholly unknown on the island of Socoti*a, the only 



