bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt," Gen. xxxvii. 25. Whenever this tree might be first cultivated in Judea, it appears evident that its origin was in Sabea. It is thus described; "The Balessan, balsam, or balm, is an evergreen shrub, or tree, which grows to about fourteen feet high, spontaneously, and without culture, in its native country. The trunk is about eight or ten inches in diameter, the wood light and open, gummy, and outwardly of a reddish colour, incapable of receiving a polish, and covered with a smooth bark, like that of a young cherry-tree. It flattens at top, like trees exposed to snow blasts or sea air, which gives it a stunted appearance. It is remarkable for a penury of leaves. The flowers are like those of the acacia, small and white, only that these hang upon three filaments or stalks, where the acacia has but two; two of these flowers fall off, and leave a single fruit; the branches that bear these are the shoots of the present year; they are of a reddish colour, and tougher than the old wood. After the blossoms, follow yellow, fine-scented seed, enclosed in a reddish-black pulpy nut, very sweet, and containing a yellowish liquor like honey; they are bitter, and a little tart upon the tongue, of the same shape and size with the fruit of the turpentine tree, thick in the middle, and pointed at the ends.

Three kinds of balsam were extracted from this tree; the first was called opobalsamum, and was most highly esteemed. It was that which flowed sponta

neously, or by incision, from the branches or trunk of the tree in summer time. Josephus describes this operation as performed with sharp stones, when the balm descended in drops like tears, and was carefully gathered. This balsam was so rare and valuable, as to sell for double its weight in silver. There were two royal gardens whence it was produced; the one of twenty acres, which in the most plentiful year yielded only six gallons of the balm; the other so much smaller as to yield no more than one gallon. The second kind was made by expressing the fruit when in maturity, and was called carpobalsamum. The third, and least esteemed of all, was made by a decoction of the buds and small young twigs. It was no doubt the most valuable balm or balsam, of which Jacob sent a little as a present to the governor of Egypt, his unknown child, Gen. xliii. 11. Balm was used as an elegant perfume; hence the bride in the Canticles describes her hands as "dropping sweet-smelling myrrh, (or balsam,)" Cant. v. 5. Most probably some preparations of the balsam, either in powder or ointment, were used to scatter on the head, or anoint it previously to retiring to rest; by which operation the hands would retain a portion of the fragrance, and impart it to whatever they touched. The balm or balsam, when exuding from the tree, is received into a bottle or vase; at this time it is of a light yellow colour, turbid, and having a whitish cast, occasioned probably by the globules of air which pervade it in

its first state of fermentation; it then, on shaking, appears very light. As it settles and cools, it becomes clear, and loses the milkiness it had on first falling from the tree; it then assumes the colour of honey, and becomes more fixed and heavy. After long keeping, it acquires a much deeper yellow, of the colour of yellow wax, or of gold. The smell at first is violent and pungent, and produces a sensation like that of the most powerful volatile salts: it is very volatile, and, if exposed to the external air, loses its pungent quality; as it does also, however secured, by extreme old age.

The balm or balsam was used medicinally, and indeed considered a sovereign remedy for severe wounds. Hence the prophet Jeremiah figuratively laments the incurable wounds of his people, by reason of sin, "Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Jer. viii. 22. Go up unto Gilead, and take balm, O, virgin, the daughter of Egypt; in vain shalt thou use many medicines, for thou shalt not be cured;" Jer. xlvi. 11. let it not be forgotten, that,

The Lign-aloe tree is a native of the Indies, and grows to the height of about eight or ten feet: at

the head of it is a large bunch of leaves, thick and indented, broad at the bottom, but narrowing towards the point, and about four feet in length. It has a beautiful red blossom, intermixed with yellow, and double, like that of a pink: from this proceeds the fruit, round like a large pea, white and red: the juice of these leaves is drawn by cutting them with a knife, and receiving it in bottles. The trunk of this tree is of three odours, and contains three kinds of wood. The heart, or finest part, is called tambac, or calambac, and is used as a choice perfume and valuable medicine; it is considered an efficacious remedy in fainting-fits and other nervous disorders: but it is to the beautiful and flourishing appearance, that allusion is made in scripture. The wicked prophet Balaam, when ineffectually attempting to curse Israel, was compelled, on the contrary, to acknowledge them a most honourable and happy people, peculiarly distinguished by the blessing of the Lord: on beholding the order of the tribes, and encampment he exclaimed, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel; as the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar-trees beside the waters," Num. xxiv. 5, 6.

It should, however, be observed, that there is a kind called the Syrian aloe, or aspalatha, which is a small shrub, covered with prickles; the wood of which, when separated from the bark, is used by perfumers to give a consistency to their perfumes;

this is of a very sweet smell, and was sometimes burned before ancient altars, instead of frankincense. This, in many respects, resembles the Indian lign aloe, and is by some writers supposed to be the tree alluded to in Balaam's description.

The Oak.

This majestic forest-tree is well known in our own country, in some parts of which it is very plentiful, and attains great perfection. It has been held in religious veneration by heathens in many parts of the world, and was intimately connected with the druidical superstitions of our own country, the outline of which was probably brought from the East. It appears that this fine spreading tree, and groves of it, were not only highly esteemed for their refreshing shade, but were also considered suitable retreats for religious services; hence altars were set up under them, and many affairs were transacted or treated of under their shade. Abraham, it appears, resided under an oak, or grove of oaks, on the plain of Mamre, (for so it appears it might properly be translated,) Gen. xviii. 1, 4, 8. xxi. 33. but as in our English Bible the oak is sometimes confounded with the terebinth, and at others simply translated " tree," it may be desirable first to describe the terebinth, which is not so generally known, and then to notice some of the references of scripture to one or other of these trees. The terebinth, or turpentine tree, is an evergreen of moderate size, having the top and branches large in proportion to the body; the leaves