THE ANGUAỸ, or YBIR̂APAYÈ.
The anguaỹ, a tree of uncommon height, and thickness, affords wood fit for carpenters work, hard, red, and remarkably fragrant. By way of fruit, it bears hard seeds, like almonds, which are also used in medicine. The stones of this fruit are triangular-shaped, of a violet colour, and so bright that the Indian women make necklaces of them. The rosin which distils from the anguaỹ is exceedingly fragrant, and of sovereign virtue. The famous Peruvian and Brazilian balsam is made of this rosin mixed with the oil of the cupaỹ tree, and others; it is also used in churches instead of frankincense, which it greatly exceeds in sweetness. The bark of the tree, being impregnated with rosin, is used for the same purpose. The tree is named anguaỹ, because mortars are generally made of it by the Guaranies, in whose language it is also called ybir̂apayè, the conjuror's tree; for the savage jugglers, whenever they expected to be visited, and consulted by their countrymen, used to perfume their huts, by burning this rosin, that they might seem to breathe of something divine.