Olib'anum

Olib'anum, a gum-resin which flows from incisions in several species of Boswellia, growing on bare limestone rocks in the mountains of Somali Land and the south of Arabia. These trees send their roots to a great depth into the crevices of the rock (see BOSWELLIA; and an exhaustive memoir on this gum-resin by Sir George Birdwood, published in the Linnean Transactions, xxvii. p. 111). Olibanum is the Lebanah of the Hebrews, Libanos or Libanotos of the Greeks, Thus of the Romans, of all which terms the ordinary English translation is Frankincense (q.v.). It occurs in commerce in semi-transparent yellowish tears and masses; has a bitter nauseous taste; is hard, brittle, and capable of being pulverised; and diffuses a strong aromatic odour when burned. It was formerly used in medicine, chiefly to restrain excessive mucous discharges; but its use for such purposes is now rare. It sometimes enters as an ingredient into stimulating plasters. It is chiefly employed for fumigation, and is used as incense in Roman Catholic churches and Indian temples. Its odour is obnoxious to mosquitoes and other insects. The inner layers of the bast of B. frereana are transparent, resembling oiled paper, and are used by the natives for writing on. Aden is the great port where it is chiefly received. The imports there in 1888 were 16,248 cwt. of ordinary olibanum and 3600 cwt. of that termed Mayeti, the name of the port from which it is received in Somali Land. This is the produce of B. frereana, and much resembles Tacamahac. The exports of olibanum from Aden in 1888 were 23,000 cwt. In India, where it is much used, the imports increase year by year, and reached 26,680 cwt. in 1888. Some is sent to China, and about 17,000 cwt. comes to England, valued at about £41,000.