44 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



red. They extra6ted the oil, by a decoction of the 

 branches, with a mixture of fome of the fruit. 



The Xochiocotzotl, commonly liquid amber, is the 

 liquid Storax of the Mexicans. It is a great tree (not 

 a ftirub, as Pluche makes it) ; its leaves are fimilar to 

 thofe of the maple tree indented, white in one part, 

 and dark in the other; and difpofed in threes. The 

 fruit is thorny and round but polygonous, with the 

 furface and the angles yellow. The bark of the tree 

 is in part green, part tawny. By incifion in the trunk, 

 they extra6i: that precious refm called by the Spaniards, 

 Uquidambar ; and the oil of the fame name, which is 

 ftill more odorous and eftimable. They alfo obtain 

 hquid amber from a deco£lion of the branches, but it 

 is inferior to that which diftils from the trunk. 



The Mexican name Copalli, is generic, and common 

 to all the refms; but efpecially fignifies thofe which 

 were made ufe of for incenfe. There are ten fpecies 

 of trees which yield thefe forts of refm, and differ not 

 only in their name, but in foliage and fruit, and in the 

 quality of the refm. That fimply called Copal, as be- 

 ing the principal, is a white tranfparent refm, which 

 diftils from a large tree, whofe leaves refemble thofe of 

 the oak, but are larger, and the fruit is round and 

 reddifh. This refm is well known in Europe by the 

 name of gum Copal^ and alfo the ufe which is made of 

 it in medicine and varniflies. The ancient Mexicans 

 ufed it chiefly in burnt offerings which they made for 

 the worfhip of their idols; or to pay refpe£l to ambaf- 

 fadors, and other perfons of the firft rank. At prefent 

 they confume a great quantity in the worfliip of the 

 true God, and his faints. The 7 ecopalli or ^epecopalli^ 

 is a refm fimilar in colour, odour, and tafte to the in- 

 cenfe 



