154 
CCCCLXV.—SJAM BENZOIN. 
Benzoin is also known. in English commerce as Gum Benjamin. It 
is a gum-resin obtained by incision in the bark of trees in Sumatra and 
Sia enzoin is used as a stimulant and expectorant in chronic 
bronchitis. It is also one of the principal ingredients in Friar's Balsam, 
and is largely used for incense 
Sumatra benzoin is yielded by Styrax Benzoin, Dry., a well-known 
tree. Daiwa 8 this species are under cultivation at Kew, and many 
have lately been distributed to botanical san EILEEN a the PN 
of the New World. Of the tree yielding Siam benzoin we know very 
little. As long ago as 1865, Sir R. H. Schom ibr "Eit "British 
Consul at Bangkok, was asked to investigate the E baut although 
able to give, at second hand, a very interesting account of the mode of 
collecting the resin, he was unable to obtain botanical pes of the 
see Mie it. Of late years renewed efforts have been made to solve 
the lem. 
Captain Hicks, of Bangkok, was successful in obtaining a few small 
plants of “gum benjamin from the Northern Laos States" in — 
The survivors of these were presented to the Botanic Gardens 
Singapore by Mr. Jamie. A fuller account of Captain Hicks’ efforts i is 
given by Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S, in the Pharmaceutical Journal, 
XIV. [3], p. 355. The locdlity from which the plants were obtain ed 
was given as * Sua ban This, we now know, is a misprint for 
Luang Prabang, a district in the extreme north-east of the States 
of S i n Tran Ninh,in the French te 
In the hope that the Siam benzoin tree might possibly extend to t 
Shan States of Harn an application was a ew to the 
India Office in 1889, and as a result a careful inquiry was made 
e Government of India in Terisecitf r Burma, and 
Sm Shan States. In 1890 it was reported that * the efforts made 
e the , existence of the plant in those localities have been 
— 
i the first authentic information respecting the district in 
which the tree is to be found is contained in a recent Report by Mr. 
Beckeit, forwarded to the Foreign Office by Mr. de Bunsen on the 
Trade of Siam for 1893 (Foreign Office, Annual Series, 1895, No. 1520). 
The following extract shows that Siam benzoin is obtain ed from an 
extremely circumscribed locality on the east bank of the River Mekong, 
in territory now occupied by the French. It is feared that the trade in 
this article will be ultimately diverted to Tonquin, which is nearer to the 
— of supply than Bangkok : 
* Gum-benjamin.—Of gum- benjamin, 319 piculs, or "mi 20 tons, 
moet in the export list, valued at 21,005 dollars, or 27137. This valu- 
ble resin is also a product of ses east bank of the ahs and is 
titatosting as being confined Mg — zone of fore 
se et to the east of Luang Probatig, ly ing between 19th and 21st 
a view : Spode 9 Án between Log Prabang and Tongin 
»- are chiefly British, have aee com - 
aoe the recie, tiis be diverted entirely from Bang to- 
