256 
ON  STORAX. 
fence,  a  light  grey  color,  and  diffuses  a  very  agreeable  vanilla-like  odor. 
This  is  the  only  sort  that  is  exported ;  but  in  Cos  and  Rhodes,  it  is  also 
used  in  the  preparation  of  a  very  odoriferous  mass  made  by  the  addition  of 
finely-powdered  Olibanum,  and  formed  into  cakes  of  the  size  of  a  fist,  which 
are  called  Styrakia.  The  preparation  of  these  masses  belongs  exclusively 
to  the  conventual  clergy,  who  distinguish  their  manufacture  with  the  con- 
vent seal. 
By  repeated  warming  and  stronger  pressure,  an  almost  black  Buchuri- 
jag  is  obtained,  which  is  used  by  the  inhabitants  themselves  for  the  most 
healing  ointments  and  medicines. 
The  bark  remaining  after  the  expression  of  the  jag  is  bound  together  and 
conveyed  partly  to  Constantinople  and  partly  to  Syra  and  there  used  for 
fumigation. 
With  regard  to  the  decoction  of  the  bark  and  the  adulteration  of  Styrax- 
balsam  with  turpentine,  the  Rhodian  merchant  assured  me  that  they  would 
not  know  how  to  go  about  it ;  and  that  the  adulteration  with  turpentine, 
might,  in  case  of  detection,  involve  even  the  punishment  of  death. 
j^Note  a."]  The  Storax  trees  appear  at  that  place  to  be  of  important 
value,  and  are  given  to  the  young  women  as  dowry,  in  the  same  manner  as 
in  Greece  •  the  bride  is  presented  with  so  many  Olive-trees. 
That  Dr.  Landerer  has  been  greatly  deceived  by  his  informant 
will,  I  think,  be  very  evident  from  the  subjoined  testimonies  : 
1.  Niven  Ker,  Esq.,  who  was  for  several  years  British  Consul 
at  Rhodes,  informed  me  that  he  was  quite  ignorant  of  the  carry- 
ing on  in  that  island  of  the  manufacture  described  by  Dr. 
Landerer. 
2.  Sidney  H.  Maltass,  Esq.  of  Smyrna,  in  a  letter  to  me  under 
date  7  October,  1853,  speaking  of  Liquid  Storax,  says,  "  Cos 
and  Rhodes  produce  none." 
3.  Lieutenant  Robert  Campbell  R.  N.,  H.  B.  M.  Consul  at 
Rhodes,  writes  from  Rhodes  under  date  16  December,  1855, 
that  Mr.  Landerer  in  attributing  to  the  Islands  Cos  and  Rhodes 
the  production  of  Storax,  has  committed  an  egregious  error,  as 
they  have  never  produced  it. 
Moreover,  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Maltass  proves,  as  I  shall 
shortly  show,  that  Styrax  officinale  is  not  the  tree  yielding  Liquid 
Storax. 
There  are  other  exceptional  points  in  Dr.  Landerer's  account, 
which  I  will  for  the  present  pass  over,  remarking  only  that  the 
statement  that  liability  to  the  punishment  of  death  is  incurred 
in  the  case  of  a  person  being  detected  adulterating  Storax  with 
