SOG THE COPAL OK EASTERN AFRICA. 



of pine-leaves is employed in the medicinal bath. The membranous 

 substance and refuse are compressed into blocks and used as fuel : from the 

 resinous matter they contain, they produce sufficient gas for the lighting of 

 the factory in -which the production of these useful articles is carried 

 on. The result of one hundred quintals of wool in combustible material is 

 equal in value to six cubic metres of pine-wood. 



The Forest-wool ware manufactory at Reruda in the Thuringer-wald 

 advertises Forest-wool, oil, spirits, wadding, and the other articles already 

 enumerated. Whether these deserve or not all the high encomiums that 

 have been passed upon them, it is nevertheless an important fact that 

 a material before considered useless is now converted into articles of 

 domestic utility and commercial importance. 



THE COPAL OF EASTERN AFRICA. 



BY CAPT. RICHARD F. BURTON. 



The copal tree is called by the Arabs Shajar el sandarus, from the Hin- 

 dostani chhandarus ; by the "Wasawahili, msandaruse ; and by the Waza- 

 ramo, and other maritime races, mnangu. The tree still lingers on the 

 island and the mainland of Zanzibar. It was observed at Morubasah, 

 Saadani, Muhonyera, and Mzegera of Uzaramo ; and was heard of at 

 Bagamoyo, Albuamaji, and Kilwa. It is by no means, as some have sup- 

 posed, a shrubby thorn ; its towering bole has formed canoes sixty feet 

 long, and a single tree has sufficed for the kelson of a brig. The average 

 size, however, is about half that height, with from five to six feet girth near 

 the ground ; the bark is smooth ; the lower branches are often within reach 

 of a man's hand, and the tree frequently emerges from a natural ring-fence 

 of dense vegetation. The trunk is of a yellow-whitish tinge, rendering the 

 tree conspicuous amid the dark African jungle-growths : it is dotted with 

 exudations of raw gum, which is found scattered in bits about the base ; 

 and it is infested by ants, especially by a long ginger-coloured and semi- 

 transparent variety, called by the people maj-m'oto, or " boiling waters," 

 from its fiery bite. The copal wood is yellow-tinted, and the saw collects 

 from it large flakes ; when dried and polished, it darkens to a honey-brown, 

 and being well veined, it is used for the panels of doors. The small and 

 pliable branches, freshly cut, form favourite " bakur," the kurbaj or basti- 

 nadoing instrument of these regions ; after long keeping they become 

 brittle. The modern habitat of the tree is the alluvial sea-plain and the 

 anciently-raised beach. Though extending over the crest of the latter for- 

 mation, it ceases to be found at any distance beyond the landward country 

 slopes, and it is unknown in the interior. 



The resin or gum copal is called by the Arabs and Hindus sandarus, by the 



