[58] Brazil, or Brésil wood--Cæsalpinia. Two species of Brazil wood are used in dyeing, Cæs. Echinata (Lamarck), and Cæs. Sappan (Linn.) The first is the Brazil wood, or Brésillet, of Pernambuco, a large tree growing naturally in South America, used in commerce for red dye. The second is indigenous in India, where it is used for the same purpose, and known in the trade as sappan wood; in France, "Brésellet des Indes."
The origin of the name "Brazil," or "Brésil," for this wood, was long a moot point, whether the country took its name from the tree, or the tree from the country. Many early writers (and some modern) have thought that it was derived from the country. The Sieur de Rochefort, in his "_Histoire Naturelle et Morale des Antilles d'Amérique_" (Rotterdam, 1658), says: "Le bois de Brésil est ainsi nommé à cause que le premier qui a esté veu en Europe, avoit esté apporté de la Province du Brésil, où il croist en plus grande abondance qu'en aucun endroit de l'Amérique"; and Savary, in his _Dictionnaire du Commerce_, writes: "C'est un bois dont on se sert pour teindre en rouge, et qui est ainsi nommé puisqu'il est d'abord venu du Brésil, province de l'Amérique." I could cite more modern authorities, written and oral, for within the last month I heard the derivation of the country asserted by a gentleman of no slight pretensions to learning.
Unfortunately for the above theory, the names "Brésil" and "Brésillet" are mentioned in an "ordonnance" of John, king of France, dated London, 16th September, 1358. "Nous avons entendu plusieurs marchants, Lombards et autres, qui ont trait, ou faict traire hors du dict Royaume,--guerdes, garances, '_Brésils_, et autres teintures.'"
Again, in the _Règlements pour le Mestier de Draperie de la Ville de Troyes_, 360: "Nous avons ordené, et ordenons que dores-en-avant, aucune teintures ne puisse ou doie taindre draps au laines en ycelle Ville de Troies, mais que de garde, de garance, de _Brésil_, et d'autres meilleures taintures," etc.
Also in the _Statuts et Règlements pour les Drapiers de la Ville de Rouen_, 4th December and 5th January, 1378, _Brésil_ is mentioned, and it is to be found in _Ordonnances_ of the years 1368, 1398, and 1400. In the very ancient MS. statutes of the town of Abbeville, _Brésil_ is named: "Que à Selle neuve, ne sait mis en oeuvre basenne _Bresillé_." Finally, Muratori, in his _Antiq. Ital. Med. Ævi_, vol. ii, cites a charter of the year 1193, in which "Brazil" appears. "Scilicet de omnibus drappis de batilicio, de lume zucarina, de _Brasile_," etc.