Description

Anstey writes to ask Prain if he can help with a matter on behalf of Sir Richard Temple. Temple is editing the diary of Streynsham Master 1676-1677 for the INDIAN RECORD SERIES. Within the diary is an inventory of the goods of William Puckle, a servant of the 'E.I.Co.' [East India Company]. One of the articles mentioned in the inventory is 'one cup of Zeilger wood'. Temple is trying to ascertain the correct meaning and origin of the term and has already researched many possibilities, including J.S. Gamble, believing it to be a 'mis-rendering of zebra wood'. Temple himself believes it may be one of the many forms of 'eagle wood' Aquilaria agallocha. Anstey asks if Prain can provide any answers and assures Prain that Temple will be most grateful for his help. Annotated by 'O.S.' [Otto Stapf] suggesting the wood may Lignum Aloë or Xylaloë: a form parallel to Xylaloë is Xylgaru, which could be corrupted to Zeilger. Page 1 of 3.