The most perfect is that called _Calampat_, which is not found in Sumatra, but is brought from the city of _Sarnau_ near which it grows, as we were told by our companions the Christian merchants formerly mentioned. There is another kind of _aloes_ called _Juba_ or _Luba_, brought to Sumatra by the before mentioned river or strait, but I know not from what country. The third kind is called _bochor_. These Christian merchants also told us that none of the finest and best kind of aloes is brought to us, because it comes from the kingdoms of _Cathay, Chini, Macym, Sarnau_, and _Gravay_, countries much richer than ours and more abounding in gold, having kings of great power and riches, who take great delight in sweet savours and use them much more than our western princes, owing to which circumstance the true and best kind of _aloes_ is worth ten crowns the pound even in the city of _Sarnau_. [Footnote 93: From similarity of names this appears to be _Benzoin_, or _benzoe_, sometimes called _gum benjamin_; yet from some circumstances in the sequel it may possibly indicate _camphor_.--E.] We were taught by the said Christian merchants our companions, how to know and distinguish the two kinds of the sweet gums called _aloes_ or _Laserpitium_. One of them had a certain portion of them both, and about two ounces of the best sort of aloes called _calampat_. Taking a piece of this in his hand and holding it close for about as long as one might take to rehearse the psalm _Miserere mei Deus_ three times, the aloes become hot, and on opening his hand gave out a savour of incredible sweetness, such as I had never experienced from any other substance. He took also about the size of a walnut of the common _laserpitium_ or _belzoe_, and half a pound of that which comes from the city of _Sarnau_, and putting both into different chaffing-dishes with burning coals in a close chamber, the small quantity of _belzoe_ far exceeded, in sweetness of flavour, the other which weighed half a pound, and would even have done so had it been two pounds weight[94]. In this region also is found the substance called _lacca_ from which a bright red colour is procured. This is the gum of a tree not much unlike our walnut tree[95]. In Pedier I saw in one street not less than 500 bankers or exchangers of money; and at this place they make many curious works, such as fine baskets garnished with gold, which were sold for two crowns each[96]. This is a famous mart to which innumerable merchants resort. The inhabitants wear mantles of silk, and _syndones_? made of cotton.