NOTES AND QUERIES ON ASIATIC COPALS. 245 



a lighted candle in a draught. It is insoluble in cold, but partially 

 soluble in boiling alcohol, on the addition of camphor ; when powdered 

 it is readily soluble in oil of turpentine. Powdered and burnt 

 on the fire, it emits a more resinous smell, and burns with more 

 smoke than white Dammar. This substance also is unknown in our 

 markets. 



A cui'ious and interesting substance is known in Burmah under the 

 name of Poonyet, which has the appearance of a blackish resin, traversed 

 with cells, excavated by a species of Dammar-bee in the resin, whilst 

 still in a semi-fluid state. Having had occasion to examine a specimen 

 of this substance, I, at once, pronounced it to be the resin of Canarium 

 strictum, and not, as some had supposed, a secretion of the insect. This 

 view I have since seen borne out by the remarks of Mr. Brown, of 

 Trevandrum, who states, that the dammar which exudes from the cuts in 

 the trunks of the black dammar tree seems to be a great favourite of 

 several species of insects, especially of one resembling a bee, called by 

 the Hill-men " kulliada," which live in pairs in holes in the ground. A 

 similar substance is known in Malacca, as Dammar Klootee, containing 

 larger cells, probably formed by a different species of Dammar-bee in 

 the resin exuded from the same tree, which is not uncommon in that 

 district. 



Dammar Daging, or Rose Dammar, is the produce of some tree 01 

 trees unknown, inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula. This resin occurs in 

 immense masses, of a form very similar to those of the black dammar, 

 but streaked and variegated with dull crimson, alternating with pale 

 ochraceous bands. It is less brittle, harder, and of equally vitreous 

 fracture to black dammar. The extent to which it is found, the uses to 

 which it is specially applied by the natives, and its botanical sources, 

 are still to be determined. 



Dammar mata kooohing (Hopea micrantha). This substance seems to 

 be very common in Borneo, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Assam, and 

 probably, elsewhere. It greatly resembles the ordinary Gum Dammar 

 imported from Singapore ; indeed, except in greater hardness, it seems 

 to be undistinguishable. If a quantity of both were intermixed, it 

 would be almost impossible to separate them. I am disposed to believe 

 that the whole of a consignment of East India copal, as it was termed,, 

 which was sold in Mincing-lane, about two or three years since, and im- 

 ported from Singapore, was this resin. Large quantities arrive at 

 Singapore from Borneo and Sumatra, and are dispersed over the world, 

 under the name of Dammar, and, probably, much of this is sold here. 

 It is acknowledged that there is a great difference practically in the 

 quality of Singapore dammar, and this may be due to some consignment 

 being the resin of Dammara orientalis, and others of Hopea micrantha 

 The latter being doubtless the best. 



Singapore Dammar (Dammara orientalis), claims but a passing 

 record, and the expression of a doubt whether so much of the white 



