GUM-SANDARAC, is said, in the Encyclopædia,
to be produced from a species of juniper. This was long the common opinion; but M. Schouboe has lately proved (A) it to be a mistake. The juniperus communis, from which many have derived this gum, does not grow in Africa; and Sandarac seems to belong exclusively to that part of the world. The gum-sandarac of our shops is brought from the southern provinces of the kingdom of Morocco. About six or seven hundred quintals of it are exported every year from Santa Cruz, Mogador, and Saffy. In the language of the country it is called el grassa. The tree which produces it is a Thunia, found also by M. Vahl in the kingdom of Tunis. It was made known several years ago by Dr Shaw, who named it Cypressus fructu quadrivalvi, Equiseti instar articulatis; but neither of these learned men was acquainted with the economical use of this tree; probably because, being not common in the northern part of Barbary, the inhabitants find little advantage in collecting the resin which exudes from it.
M. Schouboe, who saw the species of thunia in question, says that it does not rise to more than the height of twenty or thirty feet at most, and that the diameter of its trunk does not exceed ten or twelve inches. It distinguishes itself, on the first view, from the two other species of the same genus, cultivated in gardens, by having a very distinct trunk, and the figure of a real tree; whereas in the latter the branches rise from the root, which gives them the appearance rather of bushes. Its branches also are more articulated and brittle. Its flowers, which are not very apparent, show themselves in April; and the fruit, which are of a spherical form, ripen in September. When a branch of this tree is held to the light, it appears to be interspersed with a multitude of transparent vesicles which contain the resin. When these vesicles burst in the summer months, a resinous juice exudes from the trunk and branches, as is the case in other coniferous trees. This resin is the sandarac, which is collected by the inhabitants of the country, and carried to the ports, from which it is transported to Europe. It is employed in making some kinds of sealing-wax, and in different sorts of varnish. In 1793 a hundred weight of it cost in Morocco from 13 to 13½ piastrines, which make from about L. 3, 5s. to L. 3, 7s. 6d. sterling. The duty on exportation was about 7s. 6d. sterling per quintal.
Sandarac, to be good, must be of a bright-yellow colour, pure and transparent. It is an article very difficult to be adulterated. Care, however, must be taken, that the Moors do not mix with it too much sand. It is probable that a tree of the same kind produces the gum sandarac of Senegal, which is exported in pretty considerable quantities.