294 MATERIA MED 1 CA. 
clear as at firft, it is a fign that the Balfam is of the 
beft kind, and not adulterated. It is admitted, 
even by the Turks, that it is very difficult to find 
Balfam which will ftand this proof; for the true 
Balfam of Mecca is fcarcely to be found any where 
but in the pofleffion of the Turkifh Emperor and 
the grandees of the kingdom, who get it as a 
valuable prelent from fome traveller who hath been 
at Mecca. In order to make lure of getting this 
valuable drug unadulterated, it is necefiary either by 
friendffiip or money, at the time the caravan goes to 
Mecca, to gain the intereftot a Turk, who w ill pro- 
cure it genuine from the firft hand, and then we may 
be affined of its goodnefs, and that it poffeffes 
the excellent virtues, which the innumerable ex- 
periments made by the inhabitants of the Eaft: 
confirm. 
The 20th of June, I went round the city of 
Cairo to enquire for Balfam of Mecca, with an 
intention to buy fome, if I could get any thac was 
good. I faw the manner in which an Italian 
merchant, who had been thirty years at Cairo, 
tried it, it was as follows : He dropped fome drops 
of the Balfam into a little China cup, filled with 
clear cold water ; if thefe immediately exten- 
ded themfelves in a fkin, and this Ikin was even 
and clear, and entirely free from bubbles, he 
pronounced the Balfam good ; but if it was fome 
time before they fpread over the water, and the 
fkin was dirty, and had feveral bubbles or air 
bladders, it was a lure fign that the Balfam was 
adulterated and mixed with other things. If the 
fkin can be gathered and wound up on a little 
ftiaw, without breaking or leaving any oil on the 
water, it was hkewife good ; and on the contrary? 
if the Ikin cannot be- gathered, but breaks into 
