SUMATRA* 
129 
evcrf purpofe the other fs applied to. There is likewife a gum which 
1 have fcen in fmall quantities, brought from the country, called am^ 
paibtiy whfcb I believe to be gum tacca^ refembling it In hardnefs and 
color. 
The forefts contain a great variety of valuable fpecies of wood, which Variety of 
wood> 
though not in general oonfidered By the natives as objedts of trade, are 
employed as fuch in other countries and might perhaps in this, be turn-, 
cd to account, if properly attended to* Ebony trees (pear) are in the ^^^^Y*- 
great ft plentf. Snfafras (cnyao ^addees), or a tree polTefling its flavor, 
qualities and virtues; but likcr to the elm, than the fir, which that of 
South America is faid to refemble; grows tn great abundance, and is 
ufed in medicinCj as a fweetcner of the blood. The fpruce pines which ^^^^ 
Captain Cook mentions to have met with in diiFercnt iilands of the South 
Sea, particularly at t^iar which he named the illc of Pines, aj^pear from 
the defcription and the plate, to be exactly the fatne with the arou of 
Sumatra, which we have been ufed to call the baflard pine, wichout re- 
ceding on the probabiliry of its yielding the fpruce. .1 have before 
remarked of this tree, that It delights in a low, fandy foil, and is 
ever the firft that grows on land rclinquiflied by the fea ; by what means 
propagated, 1 know not, unlefs the cones float on the water, and are 
driven on the beach by the tide. On the wefl coaft of Sumatra, there 
are no anu trees to be met with to the fouchward of Allafs, except near 
Siggln bay, where the river is called Wye arou. Sandal wood (cbc7tdand)^ 
alfo the celebneted eagle or aloes wood {g^rm)^ are the produce of g^gi^o^j^iQ^. 
this illand, and have been luucK boaCtcd.of by the early writers; but I 
fufpcd that they have, fince thofe days, loft much of their reputation, 
as well as the different kinds of bezoars, procured from the bodies of 
various animals, which are noiv fuffered to live unmoleftcd- For fhip- 
building there is much excellent timber, and fome which is found by 
experience to refift the worm, but the ihallownefs of the rivers and 
dangerous furfs, will ever prevent its being made ufe of for that import- 
ant purpofe. Teak (jailee), the pride of the eaflern forcil:s, though y^^^,^ 
growing in abundance to the north and fouth of the illand, at Pegu and 
L I Java,. 
