Tbeatrum 'Botanicum 
1572 Chap.12, 
rcr, and the white wiTdkind of it, which the Italian, 
call Carotta bianco are the red and the white Ben, which 
they and I alfo fuppofe may paffe reafonable well as (ub- 
ititutes for them, untill the true maybe knowne. but 
tbofc things that goc under their names in the Drugguts, 
and Apothecaries thops,are not knowne, what they are, 
but are certainely falfe,and not the things they fiiould be. 
Rasmolfias faith that he found the true white Ben grow¬ 
ing at the foote of mount Libanm, in a modi Ihadowy 
place, which the Inhabitants call Bebmtn Abiaa, as they 
call the red Bebmen ackmar t the defection ol the white 
fort he fettethdownethus: the leaves are great long and 
tbicke, like unto the fliarpe pointed Docke, upon long 
footcftalkes, but having at the bottomeof each Icatc, 
foure other fmall ones (landingby couples each againlt o- 
t'ner, thofe that grow on the (hike ate leffe, and without 
any footeftalke, thetoppeof the (lalke is parted into 
fome branches, each bearing at the toppes a knapor yel- 
lowifh fcaly head, out of which breaketh a yellow low- 
er.- the rootc is long and lull of j'oynts.but without any 
or very few fibres, very like unto Licorts both for forme 
and greatneffc, but white inwardly. They are fay 1 Sera- 
fo ,Mefues, and other Arabians ,hot and mold in the htlt 
or fecoud degree,they comfort the heart, and are lurrers 
co Venery. 
Tribe 17 
Bghmea obiad, White Ben. 
Chap. XII< 
Benzoin, Benjamin, 
tree from whence this lweet gumme Benzoin is taken,is very great,faire, and nigh,largely Ipread 
257 ra , n j fet full ol branches,in a comely order, the leaves whereof are lomcwhat like unro thole of the 
ftp] Ulo Citron tree, but lelier and not fo grcenc, but grayifh on the underfide: from the body hereof which 
ciiiS is great and thicke, and the wood very hard and firme, by wounding it as they doe other trees, is 
drawne forth the gumme,which is of divers forts, for fome is very red,and full of barkes and (hekes 
which fome take to be the fwcetelV, others is mote pure or cleane,nothing fo red, hiving many great tnd fmall 
white oeeces of gumme in it, which is called the Allmonds of the gumme, another fore is blackifh, which is 
(aid to come from the younger trees, and called as Garcias faith Bmmi dc 'Boninas, andis fwcctcr then thelaft. 
Some laithhe,call BenzoinBcnjaoifl“* lava, ('which Scahger correifieth, faying G.«i<H was miflaken in 
thinking that Ben in the Arabian tongue,fignifyeth flit*, when as he faith it is taebryma ,and lo Ben jaoi ,is taebrj. 
ma lavenfu) andfome, as Ruetlists Benludaum, deceived either by the neerer.cffc ofthe name, orbecanlehe 
thought that Mta was the naturall place thereof, and that it was a kinde of Afadulcio, but without any truth or 
ground of reafon, which opinion is yet held with divers who will (fill ufe it inwardly in placed Lafor: it is u- 
fually called in fhoppes Benjuimm, and of fome Eelzoinum, and ®tn*.M»,or Benvsmum : and of the Indians Co- 
minharn • There hath been fundry errours among learned men,about this gumme, for finding it to be fo fweete, 
and offo delicate a fubftance and (hew, they ftraight imagined that it could not be but of fome lingular vertue, 
and not unknown: to the Auncients: fome therefore thought it to be Cancamum of D lofcndes, but yet as Oar. 
tUi fhewetll it chiefly groweth in Sumatra,and Sian, and zMartaban necre thereunto, of the Arabians Levan 
jay anafi ibi* ex lava and fdo at Surras,&c. and not in Arabians Dio/corides faith Cancamiim doth : fometookc 
11 to be the bell CMjrrba called Mjrrha Aminea, and fomeaslfaid before to be tsifadulcis, but Benzoin, be- 
fides thatit was not knowne to the Ancients, it isnotufed inwardly in Phyficke, neither by the Indians, norby 
usthst millake it not, but is wholly fpent in perfumes cither water ot oyle, pouther. Pomanders, burning per¬ 
fumes or the like.and is of an excellent fent, where or howfeever it is uled. Banhsnm leemeth to referre that 
(lender long fruite ofClnj'Uu.Exot.nb.px. 11 .unto Alpinm his Felfeltavil, and that it was naturall of Florida, 
but Vdinfm flieweth it to be farre otherwife, as (hall be (hewed m the Chapter of Pepper, but I rather thinks 
it is the ftuice of this Be*! min tree,or ofthe browne American Balfamc before let doiyne. 
Ceil 
