THE ALMUG, OR ALGUM TREE OF THE ANCIENTS. 
113 
reducing the whole to saw-dust, which being mixed with rice paste, are formed into 
slender candles, which are burnt as incense in their houses and temples. 
" Sandal-wood, though a product of the Malabar coast, became early known in 
different and distant parts of India, and is mentioned by early Sanscrit writers, under 
the name of Chunduna. The common Indian name is Chundun, which the 
Arabs converted into Sundal, from which we have Sandal or Sandal-wood. 
" Many substances, the produce of India, found their way to northern nations, at 
very early periods. Among these may be mentioned pepper, ginger, and spikenard. 
India was, in fact, the chief seat of early commerce, being reached by caravans from 
the north, or its produce was brought by ships to the Persian Gulf and the Eed 
Sea. Hence we can account not only for the produce, but some of the Indian names 
of the more remarkable substances reaching the Greeks. Among these Sandal-wood 
does not appear in ordinary authors. Actuarius mentions it apparently as if it were 
well known. At a still earlier period, however, that is, at the time of the Periplus 
of Arrian, who is supposed by Dr. Vincent to have been a merchant of the second 
century, who visited the coast of Malabar, we find Sandal-wood mentioned, by the 
name of Xylon Saggalinom, or Sangalinon, easily corrupted, as Dr. Vincent says, from 
Sandalinon, as an import at Omana, in Gadrosia. Between this and Barugaza, 
that is Baroach, there has always been a constant intercourse. Maoora, Tundis, and 
Muziris of the Periplus, are supposed by Dr. Vincent to be the present Onoor, 
Borela, and Mangalore, the very places from which Sandal-wood is exported, even in 
the present day, and from which it must have been carried north to Baroach and 
Omana. And perhaps the reason why it has not been more distinctly mentioned is, 
that it may have been confounded with another fragrant wood — the Agila, or Aloe- 
wood (Aquilaria Agallochum) ; as, growing near the coast, and being possessed of 
such remarkable fragrance, it must have attracted attention as early as any other 
product of India. 
"If we consider also, the deficiency of timber both in Arabia and Egypt, and 
this combined with the active commerce which seems to have existed at all times in 
the Eed Sea, there must always have been a demand for timber, which could only 
have been supplied from a variety of sources. In the sacred writings, we find that 
when Solomon held sway as far as the shores of the Bed Sea, in conjunction with 
Hiram and the Phoenicians, he ' made a navy of ships in Eziongeber. which is beside 
Elath, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom ; and they came to Ophir. ' 
1 Kings, ix. 26. ' And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, 
brought in from Ophir great plenty of Almug trees, and precious stones.' 1 Kings, 
x. 11. In the parallel passage of 2 Chronicles, ix. 21, 4 The king's ships went to 
Tarshish, with the servants of Hiram ; every three years once came the ships of 
Tarshish, bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.' If with these 
passages we compare 1 Kings, xxii. 48, and 2 Chronicles, xx. 35, 36, it is evident 
that the voyage to Ophir was commenced at the head of the Red Sea, and that the 
ships went to Tarshish as well as to Ophir, in this voyage. Hence there must have 
VOL. XV. NO. CLXXTII. Q 
