The Kinds.

There be divers sorts of trees from which do flow Balsams, very different one from another, not only in form, but also in fruit, liquor, and place of growing; the which to distinguish would require more time and travail than either our small time will afford, or riches for our maintenance to discover the same in their natural countries: which otherwise by report to set down certain matter by uncertainties, would discredit the author, and no profit shall arise thereby to the reader: notwithstanding we will set down so much as we have found in the works of some travellers, which best agree with the truth of the history.

The Description.

1. There be divers trees growing in the Indies, whose fruits are called by the name of the fruit of the Balsam tree: among the rest this whose figure we have set forth unto your view, we ourselves have seen and handled; and therefore the better able to describe it. It is a fruit very crooked, and hollowed like the palm of a hand, two inches long, half an inch thick, covered with a thick smooth rind, of the colour of a dry Oaken leaf; wherein is contained a kernel (of the same length and thickness, apt to fill the said shell or rind) of the substance of an almond; of the colour of ashes, fat, and oily; of a good smell, and very unpleasant in taste.

2. The wood we have dry brought unto us from the Indies for our use in physic (a small description may serve for a dry stick) nevertheless we have other fruits brought from the Indies, whose figures are not set forth, by reason they are not so well known as desired; whereof one is of the bigness of a walnut, somewhat broad on the upper side, with a rough or rugged shell, uneven, black of colour, and full of a white kernel, with much juice in it; of a pleasant taste and shell, like the oil of Mace: the whole fruit is exceeding light, in respect of the quantity or bigness, even as it were a piece of cork; which notwithslanding sinketh to the bottom when it falleth into the water, like as doth a stone.

3. This tree, saith Garcias, that beareth the fruit Carpobalsamum, is also one of the Balsam trees: it groweth to the height and bigness of the Pomegranate tree, garnished with very many branches whereon do grow leaves like those of Rue, but of colour whiter, always growing green: amongst which come forth flowers, whereof we have no certainty: after which cometh forth fruit like that of the Turpentine tree, which in shops is called Carpobalsamum, of a pleasant smell; but the liquor which floweth from the wounded tree is much sweeter: which liquor of some is called Opobalsamum.

Prosper Alpinus hath writ a large Dialogue of the Balsam of the Ancients, and also figured and delivered the history thereof in his book De Plant. Ægypti, cap. 14, whither I refer the curious. I have presented you with a slip from his tree, and the Carpobalsamum set forth by our author, which seems to be of the same plant. The leaves of this are like to those of Lentiscus, always green, and winged, growing three, five, or seven fastened to one footstalk; the wood is gummy, reddish, and well smelling: the flowers are small and white like those of Acatia, growing usually three nigh together: the fruit is of the shape and bigness of that of the Turpentine tree, containing yellow and well smelling seeds, filled with a yellowish moisture like honey, their taste is bitterish, & somewhat biting the tongue.

4. Of these Balsam trees there is yet another sort: the fruit whereof is as it were a kernel without shell, covered with a thin skin streaked with many veins, of a brown colour: the meat is firm and solid, like the kernel of the Indian Nut, of a white colour, and without smell, but of a grateful taste; and it is thought to be hot in the first degree, or in the beginning of the second.

5. There be divers sorts more, which might be omitted because of tediousness: nevertheless I will trouble you with two special trees worthy the noting: there is, saith my author, in America a great tree of monstrous hugeness, beset with leaves and boughs even to the ground; the trunk whereof is covered with a twofold bark, the one thick like unto cork, & another thin next to the tree: from between which barks doth flow (the upper bark being wounded) a white Balsam like unto tears or drops, of a most sweet savour, and singular effects, for one drop of this which thus distilleth out of the tree, is worth a pound of that which is made by decoction: the fruit hereof is small in respect of the others; it seldom exceedeth the bigness of a pea, of a bitter taste, enclosed in a narrow husk of the length of a finger, something thin, and of a white colour; which the Indians do use against headache: which fruit of most is that we have before described, called Carpobalsamum.

6. It is also written, that in the island called Hispaniola, there groweth a small tree, of the height of two men, without the industry of man, having stalks or stems of the colour of ashes; whereon do grow green leaves, sharp at both ends, but more green on the upper side than on the lower; having a middle rib somewhat thick and standing out; the footstalks whereon they grow are somewhat reddish: among which leaves cometh fruit growing by clusters, as long as a man's hand, fingers and all: the stones or grains in the fruit be few, and green; but growing to redness more and more as the fruit waxeth ripe. From the which is gathered a juice after this manner: they take the young shoots and buds of the tree, and also the clusters of the fruit, which they bruise, and boil in water to the thickness of honey, which being strained, they keep it for their uses.

They use it against wounds and ulcers; it stoppeth and stancheth the blood; maketh them clean; bringeth up the flesh, and healeth them mightily, and with better success than true Balsam. The branches of the tree being cut, do cast forth by drops a certain clear water, more worth than Aqua vitæ, most wholesome against wounds, and all other diseases proceeding from cold causes, if it be drunken some few days together.

The Place.

These trees grow in divers parts of the world, some in Egypt, and most of those countries adjacent: there groweth of them in the East and West Indies; as travellers in those parts report.

The Time.

These trees for the most part keep green winter and summer.

The Names.

Balsam is called in Greek, Balsamon: in Latin also Balsamum: of the Arabians Balseni, Balesina, and Belsan: in Italian, Balsamo: in Erench, Baume.

The liquor that floweth out of the tree when is wounded, is called Opobalsamum: the wood Xylobalsamum: the fruit Carpobalsamum, and the liquor which naturally floweth from the tree in Egypt Balsamum.

The Temperature.

Balsam is hot and dry in the second degree, with astriction.

The Virtues.

A. Natural Balsam taken in a morning fasting, with a little Rose water or wine, to the quantity of five or six drops, helpeth those that be asthmatic, or short of wind: it prevaileth against the pains of the bladder, and stomach, and comforteth the same mightily; and also amendeth a stinking breath; & takes away the shaking fits of the quotidian ague, if it be taken two or three times.

B. It helpeth consumptions, cleanseth the barren womb, especially being anointed upon a pessary, or mother suppository, and used.

C. The stomach being anointed therewith, digestion is helped thereby; it also preserveth the stomach from obstructions and windiness; it helpeth the hardness of the spleen; easeth the griefs of the reins and belly, proceeding of cold causes.

D. It also taketh away all manner of aches, proceeding of cold causes, if they be anointed therewith; but more speedily, if a linen cloth be wet therein, and laid thereon: used in the same manner, it dissolveth hard tumors, called œdemata; and strengtheneth the weak members.

E. The same refresheth the brain, and comforteth the parts adjoining, it helpeth the palsy, convulsions, and all griefs of the sinews, if they be anointed therewith.

F. The marvellous effects that it worketh in new and green wounds, were here too long to set down, and also superfluous; considering the skilfull surgeon whom it most concerneth, doth know the use thereof, and as for the beggerly quacksalvers, runnagates, and knavish mountebanks, we are not willing to instruct them in things so far above their reach, capacity and worthiness.