GAMBOGE. 235 



The quantity imported of all the varieties is but small, 

 and usually comes from the East Indies; it is produced 

 chiefly in the Indian Archipelago. There are two or three 

 similar secretions called Dragon's Blood, but these are 

 rarely met with. One is produced from the curious Dragon- 

 tree, Dracana draco, a plant of the same order as the lilies 

 (Liliacea) ; another from the Pterocarpus draco, a papilio- 

 naceous tree, allied to that producing the red saunders-wood 

 above described. The imports in 1850 were 117 packages, 

 or about six tons. 



Gamboge. — A gummy and slightly resinous exudation 

 from the young wood of the Gamboge-tree (Hebradendron 

 cambogioides, Nat. Ord. Clusiacece). (Plate XI Y. fig. 75.) 



Though decidedly not a dye-stuff, this material is much 

 used in colouring, forming a valuable water-colour; and 

 is also used in colouring lacquer varnish for brass-work. 

 There is some reason to believe that gamboge is made from 

 more than one species. It was first introduced to Europe 

 in 1603, by Admiral Yan Neck, who brought it from 

 China under its eastern name of Ghiitaiemou. 



There are three kinds of gamboge : — 



1. Pipe Gamboge, which is the best; it comes from Siam 

 in rolls about an inch and a half in diameter and sometimes 



