216 J Treatise on 
Time, they were to be met with in Arabia falix, 
whence the Wood and Fruit had been brought in 
all Ages to Memphis , with other Arabian Commo- 
dities. When Augujlin Lippi arrived at Cairo in 
the Year 1704, there were no Balfam-Trees re- 
maining in the Sultan' s Gardens, they having all 
perifhed long before. He relates, in his Epiftles 
to M. Fagon , Phyfician to Lewis XIV. that they 
are only to be found growing wild in Mecca and 
other Provinces of Arabia fcelix , as he was in- 
formed by a certain Prince, Son of the King of 
Mecca \ from whom alfo he learnt the Method of 
extracting the Balfam. We may therefore con- 
clude that the Balfam-Tree was always a Native of 
Arabia fcelix , and that it never grew fpontaneoufly 
either in Egypt or Judaea. 
The Balfam of Mecca , according to Alpinus , 
when it is firft drawn from the Tree, is of a white 
Colour, and an excellent, penetrating Smell, fome- 
thing like Turpentine, but much more fragrant, 
and of a bitter, acrid, aftringent Tafte. At firft 
it is thick and turbid, like the Oil of Olives when 
firft expreffed from the Fruit ; afterwards it be- 
comes extremely thin, limpid and light : Its Colour 
turns greenifh, then approaches to the Colour of 
Gold, and at length refembles Honey. It alfo 
grows thick and tenacious with Age, like Turpen- 
tine, and is greatly deprived of its Smell. Being 
dropt into Water, when frefh, it does not fink in 
the Water by Reafon of its Lightnefs, but being 
let fall from a confiderable Height, it fubfides a 
while beneath its Surface, whence it almoft con- 
tinually rifes up and expands itfelf over the Wa- 
ter, and mixes with it lb, that it is very difficult- 
ly feparated. In a fhort Time after, it concretes 
in the Water, and coagulates, when, by an Iron- 
Pin or liich like Inftrument, the whole may be 
taken 
