Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/188

 reserves something of the Cinnamon smell; but that may be the Fault of the Distiller.

Q. 19. Whether some of that rare Wood, call'd Palo d'Aquila and Calamba, of an extraordinary Value, even in the Country where it groweth, as in Siam about San, and Patan, and in Cochinchina, may not be brought over; as also some of those strange Nests of Cochinchina, made by Birds upon Rocks, of a certain viscous Froth of the Sea, which Nests grown dry and hard, are said to become transparent, and when dissolved in Water, serve excellently to season all their Meats?

A.If the Question be made, whether these Things may be brought over by Permission of the Company? I answer; as first, that their Laws forbid the Transportation of all whatsoever, whether necessary to the Conservation of Health, or Acquisition of Wealth, or Rarities, &c. but if the Query be concerning the Nature and Substance of the Wood and Nests; they are transportable, and can subsist without decaying many Years. Lignum Aquilæ is far inferior to Calamba, though not easy to be discerned. A Pound of Calamba is worth in Japan thirty, and sometimes forty Pounds Sterling; the best comes from Cambodia, and seems to be the Pith of the Tree Aquila in Japan, it is used as Incense to perfume Clothes, and Chambers. It is held for a great Cordial, and commonly us'd by that Nation, as also the Chinese, in Defectione spirituum vitalium; as in Paralysi & Nervorum laxatione & impotentia: They rub it with Aqua Cynamomi upon a Stone, till the Substance of the Wood is mixt, sicut pulpa, with the Water, and so drink it with Wine, or what they please. The Bird's Nests are a great Restorative to Nature, and much used by the lecherous Chinese.

Rh