i 5 8 Dr. Robinfon to Mr. Ray. 



x When I was at Rome, I obferv'd many times two 

 Fathers, belonging to the publick Elahoratories there, 

 to gather up and down in the Villa's and Gardens the 

 Gum and Refin of the Cyprefs, as alfb to get an oily 

 Subftance from the Wood by a kind of Diftillation 

 per Defcenfuni. Upon my Enquiry, the Fathers were 

 fo obliging as to tell me, that out of this Refin they 

 jprepar'd a Lacca, which being fuperficially fpread, 

 and dry'd over any body, would preferve it frefh to 

 the End of the World. The Preparation is thus : 

 After having diftill'd a fufficient Quantity of Liquor 

 from the Refin, they cohobate that diftill'd Spirit on 

 the remaining part of the pum, (left in the Retort) 

 which by a gentle Digeftion diflolves, and becomes 

 a Lace a. I told the Fathers, that the very fame Pre- 

 paration out of Amber, turpentine, or Majlich^ might 

 ferve as well for that Purpofe. However, I was very 

 thankful for their kind Communication. • 

 In the Kingdom of Naples I faw great Plantations 

 of the Gofiipium, or Xylon, (obferv'd by yourfelf in 

 Maltha.) The Neapolitans ufe the Lanugo very fuc- 

 cefsfutly in the Piles, internally as well as externally, 

 which I had once an Opportunity to remark. 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinfon, 



SIR, I 



THE Hortus Malabaricusfwhich the Dutch Mt& 

 barifts are fo bufy in carrying on, is too pom- 

 pous and coftly a Work, and not to be purchafed by 

 mean Perfons.* They might have thruflb it into a 

 Quarter of the Compafs, and rendered it more ufe- 

 ful. The like may be faid of Breynius his Book. 

 Monfieur tourneforfs Hiftoryl long to fee, not doubt- 

 ing but it will anfwer my Expcftation of it. 



/ As 

 ^Vv-VC-, * •••'•V § % > < ' ; -ijm 



