312 Treatise on 
But what we meet with in our Shops for true 
Bdellium, is not different from the firfl Sort de- 
fcribed by Dale. It is a Gum-Refin in Glebes of 
different Figures and Magnitudes, externally fome- 
times refembling common Myrrh, of a reddifh Co- 
lour like the Ruff of Iron, fometimes of a deep 
Brown with a Call of Red •, internally fomewhat 
tranfparent, and like Glue. It is brittle, but grows 
foft in the Mouth, and flicks to the Teeth. Its 
Tafle is bitterifh, much weaker than the Tafle of 
Myrrh, and its Smell not unpleafant, efpecially 
when it is burnt. It takes Flame, and continues 
burning a long Time with a crackling Noife •, dur- 
ing which, fmall liquid Grains, as it were, are ob- 
ferved to ouze out of it in feveral Places. It is 
often brought to us in Cafks mixed with Myrrh, 
and fometimes with Gum Senega. If this be not the 
bell: Sort of Bdellium mentioned by Diofccrides , it 
comes at leaft very near it. 
We have no certain Account of the Tree which 
produces Bdellium. According to Pliny's Defcrip- 
tion, it is black, of the Bignefs of an Olive-Tree, 
with Leaves like the Oak, and a Fruit like the wild 
Fig. Others will have it to refemble very much the 
Tree which produces Myrrh ; and Thevet affirms 
that he has feen two thoufand Trees which yielded 
Myrrh and Bdellium growing together in the fame 
Wood. Lobelius and Pena relate that they have 
picked from among other Commodities many Twigs 
of this Tree, of a folid Subfiance, covered with an 
hard Bark, of a blackifh Colour, and befet with a 
great Number of flrong prickly Thorns. Whence 
Dale queflions if it be not the Tree which Plukenet. 
calls Arbor laliefcens acculeata , foliis quernis , Ameri- 
cana, (Bdellif era forte,) five Arbor Bdellium ferens in 
America , Phytogr . Pah. 145. 
