188 DESCRIPTION OF THE FRANKINCENSE-TREE. 
most firmly to the stone, and at a distance resembles a mix- 
ture of mortar and lime. From the centre of the mass. the 
stem, having first taken a bend or curve outward of several 
inches, rises straight up to a height of forty feet. It throws 
from the top short branches, covered with a very bright 
green foliage, the leaves being narrow and rounded at the 
end, five or six inches in length by one broad ; crimped, 
like the frill of a shirt, or rather bearing a stronger resem- 
blance to that beautiful species of seaweed found along the 
coast of England, and styled by urchins, " the old gentle- 
man's ruffles. " 
From a foot to eighteen inches is the usual girth of the 
stem, and it tapers gradually away to the summit. The 
bark is perfectly smooth, and consists of four distinct layers. 
The outermost of all is very thin, and similar to that of the 
beech. The two next are of a singularly fine texture, re- 
sembling oiled letter-paper, perfectly transparent, and of a 
beautiful amber color. It is used by the Somauli to write 
upon. The inner bark of all is about an inch thick, of a 
dull reddish hue, tough, and not unlike leather, but yield- 
ing a strong aromatic perfume. The wood is white and 
soft, and might be applied to many useful purposes. By 
making a deep incision into the inner rind, the gum exudes 
profusely, of the color and consistency of milk, but harden- 
ing into a mass by exposure to the atmosphere. 
The whole mountain-range from Bunder Maryah to Cape 
Gardufoi is composed of limestone and marble ; and near 
the latter place, especially, the marble is so white and pure 
that it approaches to alabaster. Pink and greyish-black 
are also common colors ; and in parts it might be mistaken 
for sandstone, until chipped off with the hammer. On the 
plain visited, the frankincense is nowhere to be found rest- 
ing upon the ground, or upon any sort of soil ; and the 
purer the marble to which it adheres, the finer the growth 
of the tree. It would seem that this singular production of 
the vegetable world derives its sole nourishment from car- 
