Am.  Jour.  Pharm.) 
October,  1895.  J 
Siam  Benzoin. 
525 
by  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India  to  forward  herewith  for  your 
information  a  copy  of  a  letter,  and  its  enclosure,  regarding  the  tree 
producing  Siam  benzoin.  It  is  suggested  that  the  memorandum  on 
the  Siam  benzoin  may  be  found  suitable  for  publication  in  the  Kew 
Bulletin.  I  am,  etc., 
(Signed)  A.  N.  Wollaston. 
The  Director,  Assistant  Secretary, 
Royal  Gardens,  Kew.         Revenue  and  Statistics  Department. 
No.  606. — 2  F. — 7,  dated  Rangoon,  May  30,  1895. 
From  the  Revenue  Secretary  to  the  Chief  Commissioner  of 
Burma. 
To  the  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India,  Revenue  and 
Agricultural  Department. 
With  reference  to  the  correspondence  concerning  the  steps  taken 
with  the  view  of  identifying  the  plant  or  tree  which  produces  the 
resin  known  as  "  Siam  benzoin,"  I  am  directed  to  submit,  for  the 
information  of  the  Government  of  India,  a  copy  of  a  memorandum 
regarding  the  tree  that  produces  this  resin,  and  on  the  gum  benja- 
min industry  in  Siam,  prepared  in  Bangkok  under  the  orders  of  the 
Siamese  Minister  of  the  Interior,  and  forwarded  to  the  Chief  Com- 
missioner by  Mr.  J.  G.  Scott,  in  April,  1894.    *  '■  *  * 
Mr.  Scott  stated  that  the  area  in  which  the  gum  benjamin  trees 
were  found  was  said  to  be  all  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mekong, 
and,  therefore,  in  what  is  now  French  territory.    *    *  .* 
Mr.  Scott  further  remarked :  "  The  great  Siam  benzoin  tract  is  Hna 
Pan  Htang,  Ha  Htang  Hok,  the  upland  country  east  and  northeast 
of  Luang  Prabang.    *    *  * 
MEMORANDUM   REGARDING  THE  TREE  THAT  PRODUCES   RESIN,  AND  ON 
THE  GUM  BENJAMIN  INDUSTRY  IN  SIAM. 
The  gum  benjamin  tree  is  large  and  tall,  and  has  a  heart  similar 
to  that  of  the  "  teng  rang  "  (a  species  of  Shored)  and  "  phayom  "  (a 
kind  of  mahogany).  In  its  general  character,  and  in  the  form  of  its 
leaves,  it  resembles  the  "takieu"  tree  (a  forest  tree  of  hard  wood, 
used  for  making  dug-out  boats).  The  gum  benjamin  tree  is  propa- 
gated from  the  original  fruit.  This,  when  fallen  and  lying  upon  the 
ground,  takes  root  and  sprouts  after  the  fashion  of  the  "phayom" 
and  "gang"  trees.  As  regards  the  trunk  of  the  gum  benjamin  tree, 
there  is  no  one  who  uses  it.    Gum  benjamin  trees  are  generally 
