46 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Lac, or Gomma Laca (as it is called by the Spani- 

 ards), runs in fuch abundance from a tree like the 

 Mezquite, the branches are covered with it (a). This 

 tree, which is of moderate fize, has a red-coloured 

 trunk, and is very common in the provinces of the Co- 

 huixcas and Tlahuica. 



Dragon's blood runs from a large tree whofe leaves 

 are broad and angular. It grows in the mountains of 

 Quauhchinanco, and in thofe of the Cohuixcas(Z'). 



The Elastic Gum, called by the Mexicans Olin or 0///, 

 and by the Spaniards of that kingdom, Ule, diftils from 

 the Olquahuitl, which is a tree of moderate fize ; the 

 trunk of which is fmooth and yellowifli, the leaves 

 pretty large, the flowers white, and the fruit yellow 



and 



(a) Garzia deU'Orto, in his hiftory of the fimples of India, maintains, from 

 the accounts of feme perfons experienced in thefe countries, that Lac is pro- 

 duced by ants. This opinion has been adopted by many authors ; and Bomare 

 does him the honour to bcHeve the fa»5l fully demonftrated ; but let us examine 

 how far this is from truth. Firft, Thefe boafted demonftrations are but 

 equivocal proofs and fallacious conje6lures, which any one will be convinced of, 

 who reads the above authors. Second, Of all the naturalifts who write of Lac, 

 no one has ever feen it on the tree, but Hernandez ; and this learned and fm- 

 cere author affirms, without the fmallcft diffidence, that the Lac is a gum dif- 

 tilled from the tree which the Mexicans call, Tzinacancuitla-quahuitl, and con- 

 futes the other opinion. Thirdly, The country where Lac abounds, is the 

 fertile province of the TIahuixchas, where all the fruits profper furprifmgly; 

 and are thence carried in great quantities to the capital. But fuch a quantity 

 of fruit could not be gathered if there were fo many millions of ants in that 

 land as would be neceffary to produce fuch an exceffive quantity of Lac, the 

 trees being very numerous, and almoft all of them full of it. Fourthly, If the 

 Lac is the labour of ants, why do they produce it only in thefe trees, and not 

 in any other fpecies? &c. Lac was called by the Mexicans, Bat's Dung, from 

 fome analogy which they difcovered between them. 



' (h) The Mexicans call dragon's blood Ezpatli, which fignlfies blood-colour- 

 ed medicament ; and the tree Ezquahuitl^ that is blood-coloured tree. There 

 is another tree of the fame name in the mountains of Quauhnahuac, which is 

 Comething fimilar, but its leaves are round and rough, its bark thick, and its 

 root odorous. 



