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380 



ALMECEGA. 



[append, 



The woods of Goiana and of Alhandra abound with 

 these trees, and the Indians of the latter place gather the 

 gum in considerable quantities, and sell it at from 20 to 

 40 reis per lb. , It has almost the same medicinal virtues 

 as turpentine ; when applied in the form of a plaster to 

 the forehead, it affords relief, and it usually removes the 

 toothach. Our apothecaries use it in making up some 

 kinds of ointments. It is mixed by our people with the 

 yellow wax of the country for the purpose of making 

 candles for common use. A fourth part of tallow is 

 added to it, for caulking canoes, water-wheels of sugar- 

 mills, &c. 



The gum is known under two forms ; that which is 

 white and clean is called almecega cozida, or boiled ; for 

 the Indians who gather it, boil it for the purpose of se- 

 parating the impurities, and they make loaves of it of 16 

 and 20 lbs. weight. The almecega crua, or raw, when 

 dissolved in spirits of wine, might be used in the compo- 

 sition of some kinds of varnish; and being burnt, it 

 might serve instead of incense, as is practised with the 

 balsam of the Sertam, and as the resin of the amyris 

 ambrosiaca or idea heptqfylla of Aublet is used in some 

 parts of America. 



THE END. 



Printed by A. Strahan, 

 Printers-Street, London. 



