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ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[China. 



Indies anil China. It is in figure like a grape, und contains, under a mem- 

 braneous covering, a number of small rough angular seeds, of a blackish brown 

 colour on the outside, and whiter within. The seeds are lodged in three distinct 

 cells, and those in each cell joined closely together, so that the fruit, on being 

 opened, appears to contain but three seeds. Ten or twelve of these pedicles, 

 about an inch long, stand together upon a woody stalk. The seeds are a 

 strong grateful aromatic, of a penetrating fragrant smell, and of a warm 

 pungent taste, Chuse amomutn that is fresh and large, the jkmIs being round, 

 of a light colour, inclining to grey, heavy, and well tilled with odoriferous 

 grains : to have the grains neat and clean, they should be separated from the 

 shell, which is of little value. The pods which are light, and of which the 

 grains are wrinkled, are also of little worth. 



Angustura Bark. — This bark is the produce of a tree growing in 

 Abyssinia, and other parts of Africa, and on the Spanish Main. It is in 

 pieces about 6' inches long and 1 j broad, curled Up ; the external surface 

 whitish, the substance close and compact, of a bitter taste, and when powdered, 

 the colour of rhubarb ; it claims a high rank as an antiseptic. 



Aniseeds, Star, are the produce of a small tree {llitnum) growing in 

 China and the Philippine Islands. They consist of rusty coloured hard 

 wrinkled husks, about half an inch Jong, joined together by their ends to the 

 number of six or seven, in the form of a star, each including a glossy seed 

 that is internally white. The husks of these seeds have a glowing sweetish 

 aromatic taste, but not fiery. The seeds have little smell, but fill the mouth 

 in chewing with an agreeable tlavour, of the same nature with that of the 

 husks, but weaker, accompanied with great sweetness. Such as are broken 

 and mildewed should be rejected. For freight, the ton is 8 Cwt. 



Bex, or Behbk, The ben nut is the produce of a tree growing spon- 

 taneously in the East Indies and China, of a light colour, about the size of 

 a filbert, of a triangular yet somewhat round shape, enclosing a kernel of the 

 same figure, covered with a white skin. The nuts should be chosen of a 

 disagreeable, bitter, oily taste, fresh, plump, and sound ; the decayed and 

 broken should be rejected. 



The Ben Root is of two sorts, white and red. The white ben root is 

 grey without, and inclining to a white within ; of a taste almost insipid, 

 which, however, leaves a disagreeable bitterness when kept some time in the 

 mouth. The red ben is a fibrous root, brown on the outside, and inclining 

 to red within. Both sorts should be chosen fresh, dry, of a deep colour, and 

 of an aromatic astringent taste. 



Blood-Stone. — This stone is hard, and capable of an elegant polish; 

 it does not approach near to transparency ; its general colour is green 



