Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/436

 4^0 COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION OF is inherent in our nature, and not the result of a particular caprice with any individual people, as in the case of Malay camphor with the Chinese. Lignum aloes, a half rotten and unctuous wood, which, in burning, emits a fragrant odour, is a per- fume or incense much in request in all the coun- tries of the East, and forms an article of trade in the Indian Islands, where it makes its appearance in commerce without its being absolutely certain that it is a production of the country. Dragon' S'blood is the produce of a large spe- cies of rattan growing on the north and north- east coast of Sumatra, with some parts of Bor- neo, and chiefly manufactured at Jambi, Palem- bang, and Banjannassin. Considerable quantities of it are sent to Europe, to China, to India, and to Arabia. The price at Banjarmassin in Bor- neo, where large quantities are manufactured, is, according to quality, from 50 to 70 Spanish dollars per picul, or an average of L. 11, 6s. 9^d. per cwt. In th e London market we find it quot- ed at L. S4 per cwt., or about 200 per cent. ad. vance on that cost. DamaTy the species of rosin which has been al- ready described in the agricultural branch of this work, is a very large article of commerce, foreign as well as domestic. Under this native name, it is well known in the markets of Bengal and China, where this abundant and spontaneous production 0'