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208 SHOXG-HIASO GHAKU-WOOD. — SANDAL-AVOOD. 11,11^-12
11^.
SHONG-HIANG GHARU-W^OOD (^ #).
Shong-Jiiang comes from Chan-ch'ong and Chon-la; it is also found
throughout Hai-nan. Its price is cheaper than that of black Mo^cJi'dn (,^
The incense is procured from the lopped off young branches. If the
incense is fresh (^)
in the wood, it is called shdng-Mang.
If the bark (over the gharu) has grown three-tenths (of an inch) in
thickness, (the gharu) is called chan-Mang (^ ^);
if it is five-tenths (of
an inch) thick, it is tsien-Mang (^ ^); when a full inch thick, then it is lo
eh'on-Mang (JJg ^)^.
Notes.
1) A character or two are missing in the text after the word «black)) {tmi); but there can
be no doubt that this blank should be filled by the characters Jcio-ch'on, as the only kind of
gharu called «black» is the hio-ch'on variety. Supra, p. 158, our author says that shdng-Mang 15
was a product of the islands lying to the east of P'o-ni, presumably the Celebes; he was misinformed.
2) In other words the quality of the gharu improves with the thickness of the bark (^^)
over the gharu — ch'on-hiang, the best quality, being found in the heart of the wood.
12.
SANDAL-WOOD (H ^).
Tan-hiang comes from the two countries of Ta-kang {^J ^) and
Ti-wu (Jfg ^);
it is also found in San-fo-ts'i, The tree resembles the lichee
of China, even the leaves are like it. The natives fell the tree and dry it in
the shade. Its aroma is pure and strong and apt to evaporate; in burning it
surpasses all other incenses. A variety of yellow colour is called huang-fan 25
(^ M); a red-brown variety is called td-fan .(^ ;g); a light and brittle
kind is called sha-fan ('IJ? ;jg). The aroma of these varieties is about
the same.
The best quality is that derived from old trees, when the bark is thin
and the full proportion of fragrance is contained in it. The second quality 30
contains only seven or eight tenths of fragrance. The poorest quality is called
tien-sing-Mang {§^^ ^ ^). Pieces of sandal-wood which have dropped
down like rain are called p'o-lou-Uang (^ '^ ^), or «scented (wood)
broken off and dropped down.» The root of the tree is called Uang-fm (^
1^) or ((incense head.» 35
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