COMMERCE OF INDIA. 



221 



Gardamum and Clove, indigenous in the Philippines, came 

 ma India and were regarded as Indian articles. Ginger was 

 imported as well from India as from Ethiopia. 



Among perfumes and scents Aloe was very highly esteemed 

 in ancient times. Aloe is the wood of the Aghil tree, which 

 is turned in consequence of a disease into a dark brownish, 

 veined resin. If it is heated it spreads a very agreeable smell. 

 The best sort is called Grhark, and sinks when placed in water ; 

 the next best, Nimghark, is still lighter and nearly floats ; 

 the third least valuable, Semeleh, is the lightest. It is indi- 

 genous in Kochin-China, Kambojah, Siam, and also in Assam. 

 Its name is generally Aguru (Agaru) in Sanskrit, which 

 word denotes in this language not heavy, but as the best species 

 is really the heaviest, it seems clear, that the name was not 

 originally Sanskrit. In the Bible it is mentioned as Ahallm, 

 which resembles more the word aghil, in Tamil, and which 

 being identical with the Sanskrit word suggests that the latter 

 was derived from the former, while the Tamil word itself is 

 probably derived from the name by which Aloe was called in 

 its native country. The Burmese name for Aloe is Akyan, 

 it resembles Aghil and Ahallm and seems to contain the 

 original root of the word. In the Mahabharata Bhima 

 receives presents of aloe. The word Aghila was through 

 ignorance turned into Aquila by the Portuguese, and thence 

 comes the erroneous name Aquilaria or Eagle- wood. It is 

 still very dear, in Kochin-China the pound sells between 18 

 and 55 rupees, and in J apan even at 650 rupees. 



The fragrant sandal wood grows in Malabar and in Mysore, 

 in the zone above the teaktrees, it is also found in the Sunda 

 Islands, but the most precious sandal wood comes from the 

 first country. The middle of the trunk contains the odori- 

 ferous innerwood, and the darker its colour the more sweet- 

 scented it is. Three kinds, red, yellow and white, are 

 distinguished. Its use and qualities are well known, as 



