Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-11-14
FRANKlNceNs= AND MYR7H.
Two R,re end Cnri"u. Gum- Obtained
truth E,-trrn Tres.

Zone frequently hears of franklin
ceuse and mvrru, said butaniSt 10 3
Stlr reporter, 'but few people know
what they are. Both are gum resins
obtained from trees. That from which
frankucense is derived grows chiefly
In Arabia. though it is also found in
certain parts of India aud elsewhere.
On the coast of Adel it is said TO be
found sprouting from between marble
rock, without soil, appearing to spring
from "A mass of substance resembling "A
mixture of lime and mortar. TIE
purer the marble the finer tue growth
of the plant. Young trees furnish the
cum. TO obtain which a deep iuciSion
Is made in TIVE trunk, a miIk-ike juice
exudiug. Wien it has had time to
harden, the large, clear globulrS are
scraped off into baskets aad the infe-
rior quality that has run down the
bark is collected separately. Aucirntly
it was reported that the land which
produced frankincense was one of fogs
and darkness. where slaves as 1, pun
ishmeut, were compelled 10 collect the
gum from trees infested bv winged
serpents of various brilliant colors,
which could only be driven away by
smoke. These beliefs were probably
circulated by Arab spice producers of
fertile Imagination who we're DESTROYS
to avoid competition.
Fifteen centuries before Christ an
Egyptian queen named Ilatasa made
an expedition TO the Arabian coast of
the Red sea and brought back with her
thrly-One incense trees. The gum
was much employed Of old in sac
rhces its use arising primiIively from
the belief that pleasant smells we're
agreeable to gods in general Trade
in such produce must have been very
extensive in those times. One thou
sand talents weight OF fraukinceuse
was brought every year to Darius by
the Arabs as tribute. As much as
this was burnt annually IN Babylon
on the great altar TO Bel Thus it is
seen 10 have been in DAYS Of antiquity
one of the most valuable products Of
the east. Itwas used by the Egyptians
IN their rel -ious rites aud WAS iu high
Tepute for medicinal purposes. Some
times blazing lumpS of it were en-
ploved for illumination. In China it
has always been considered remedy
for leproSy.
"Myrrh is the gum of tree that
grows in southwestern Asia. Until
within the present century its botan-
zeal source was in some drgree mys-
terry. The plant in question is scrahby.
not exceeding Y feet in hrigft II is
from what is called the Suuali coun-
Try that tine product is chiefly obtained,
being sent to great annual fair at
BerbcrL Were it il bought MP by
agents East India merchants. Bonn
bay and Alden are the icf crnters Of
the trade, At these pisces il is sorted,
the best quality being sent to Europe
aud the poorer kind TO China. Once
wear the queen of Greal Britain, on
the occasion of the feast of the Epip5-
any, makes an Offering of gold frank
incense aud myrrh at the Chapel
Royal London. This custom has heen
pursued since the time oi Edward !.
Taken incidentally, myrrn is believed
10 act favorably upon the appetite and
digestion. IL also has special effect
upon the mucous membrane, so that
people use it to harden gums which
are readily made to bleed by the tooth
brush 49, II uSGiRyf1}l Cyyy