THE natural Gum Lac, or that in the Stick, is a reddish Gum, that is hard, clear, and transparent, which is brought us adhering to little Sticks or Reeds, of the Thickness and Length of one's Finger, from the Kingdom of Pegu, whence it is brought in Quantities.
This Gum, according to the Relation of the Sieur Rousseau, who was a long Time in the Indies, especially in Persia and Pegu, where they gather this Gum Lac, says, that in those Parts there is a vast Quantity of Insects, like our common Flies, that gather together the Dew which is found on several Trees after the same manner as we observe our Bees; and when they are full of this Dew, they discharge it upon whatever they meet with: So that the Inhabitants of those Places stick a great many Branches of Trees, Sticks or Reeds, as we do here in the Ground for Pease, or the like, to run upon; so that the Flies may discharge their Loads of Dew upon those Sticks, and the Sun dry them to a Gum that is hard and dry, just as we see it; which is not unreasonable to suppose, since all the Lac we have brought over, sticks upon different Pieces of Wood, and likewise upon little Reeds. Besides, it is easy to see that this Gum does not flow from these little Pieces of Wood on which it is found sticking; because there are no Footsteps or Appearance from whence such a Matter should proceed. That which makes the Beauty and Goodness of this Gum, is the Quantity of Flies that are in it; for the said Sieur Rousseau has assured me that the Head of these Flies put into Spirit of Wine, makes the most beautiful red imaginable; and that it was the Tip or some Part of these Flies that made them be call'd, with just Reason, the Animal Cochineal, and not the Mestick Cochineal, which we have treated of before.
When this Gum is in Perfection, they gather these small Sticks loaded with Lac, which they keep to make a Tincture of, and to trade with several Nations, especially with the Dutch and English, from whence we have it, which is what we call Stick-Lac, or Lac in the Cane. Chuse this Gum clear and transparent, well melted, the least full of Sticks, black Gum, and other Filth, to which it is very subject; and which being chew'd, tinges the Spittle red, and boiled in Water, with any Acid, produces a fine scarlet Colour. 'Tis with this Dye that the Indians stain their Linen, and the People of the Levant what we call Turkey-Leather; and the Indians make the Wax we name from thence Indian Wax. The Dutch and English make Scarlet of it.
When the Dutch and English would make the Stick-Lac good, they grind it slightly in a Mill, and that which passes thro' the Clothes, they make use of for Dying. The Remainder, which is the worst, they make a Tincture of, by the Assistance of some Acid, to extract it; and afterwards dry this, and then form it into Balls, such as are brought to us, and which we call Lac in Grain; which being well dissolv'd, approaches the nearest to the Quality of the Stick Gum that can be.
When those People afore-nam'd would make the Gum Lac flat, they take such Lac from the Cane as is mention'd before; and when it is melted, they cast it upon a Marble, and make it flat and thin, as we now see it. The English have brought into France, for many Years, a large Quantity of the finest Gum Lac, made in the Shape of Ears, whence it has received the Name of Ear Gum. As to the Choice of Gum Lacs, the principal Thing is to have them well melted, or dissolv'd; for all the Gum Lac that is not dissolv'd is good for nothing but to be thrown away; especially that design'd for Spanish Wax, which is the chief Use of it. As for the flat Sort of it, it ought to be shining, clear, transparent, the least rugged, of the highest Colour, and the thinnest that may be. As to the third Sort, which is fit for nothing but Spanish Wax, the Dye having been drawn off, it ought to be the least burnt, and best dissolv'd; for the Gum in grain is almost entirely an Abuse; for it is a Hazard to meet with it melted, for which Reason the Makers of sealing Wax grind it again left it should not melt.
Lacca, or Gum Lac, is a hard, red, clear, transparent Rosin, which is brought us from Bengal, Malabar, Pegu, and several other East-India Provinces, adhering to little Sticks, about the Length and Thickness of one's Finger. They pretend it is made from the great wing'd Ants, or a kind of Flies resembling our common Flies, which draw a Juice from the Substance of certain Trees, and discharge the same upon the Boughs of others, or else upon Sticks or Reeds, set up for that Purpose; which being dry'd into a Gum, [as before describ'd in Pomet,] is call'd Stick Lac. You ought to chuse such as affords the highest Colour, neat, clear, a little transparent, that will melt upon the Fire when it is lighted, yields a pleasant Smell, and being chew'd tinges the Spittle of a red Colour; and likewise boil'd in Water with any Acid, strikes a beautiful scarlet Dye. This Gum yields abundance of Oil, a little volatile Salt, some Earth and Phlegm; it is incisive, penetrating, detersive; it purifies the Blood, excites Sweat, and Womens Courses; facilitates Respiration, resists the Malignity of Humours, and strengthens the Gums.
They sell at the Druggists a flat Gum Lac, which differs not from the other, but as it is separated from the Sticks, dissolved and cast upon a Marble, it looks like Glass of Antimony. They have likewise Lac in Grain, or little Bits; but usually it is not so good as the other, because there remain the grosser Parts of the Gum, after the Dutch and English have taken the scarlet Tincture off from it. This Grain Lac is us'd for sealing Wax. The Indian sealing Wax is made of the Gum Lac melted or liquefied, and colour'd with Vermilion, and is much better than that made in France, because it is compos'd of choice Gum Lac; instead of which, that of France is generally of the worst Lac in Grain, Rosin and Vermilion. The black sealing Wax is ting'd or colour'd with Smoak Black; the yellow with Orpiment, &c.
They give the Name of Lac to several Kinds of dried Pastes or Crayons, which the Painters use to paint in Miniature, and in Oil. That which is call'd fine Venetian Lac, is made with Mestick Cochineal, which remains after drawing off the first Carmine: These they prepare better at Paris than Venice, and make them up in little, soft, brittle Troches, of a deep red Colour. That which is call'd Dove colour'd Lac, or flat Lac, is made with Shavings of Scarlet, boil'd in a Lixivium of white Pot-Ashes, Chalk and Alum, which they form a Paste of, and make into Tablets to dry; the best is made at Venice. There is a certain Tincture made of Brasil Wood, the Painters call Liquid Lac.