° 4 PEXTANDRIA. 



large as that of -the lentiscus;* in sweetness, it is like 

 the fruit of the Palm-tree. From this fruit the Loto- 

 phagi also make wine."y 



Polyuius. " The Lotus is a tree of no great height, 

 rough and thorny, and bears a green leaf, somewhat 

 thicker and broader than that of the bramble; its 

 fruit at first is like the ripe berries of the myrtle, both 

 in size and colour, but when it ripens it turns to pur- 

 ple ; it is then about the bigness of an olive ; it is 

 round, and contains a very small kernel; when it is 

 ripe it is gathered, and bruised among bread-corn, put 

 up into a vessel, and kept as food for the servants; it 

 is dressed after the same manner for the family, the 

 kernel being first taken out : it has the taste of a fig, 

 or date, but a far better scent. Wine is likewise 

 made of it by steeping and bruising it in water, and 

 has a very relishing taste, like wine tempered with 

 honey. It is drunk without being mixed with water, 

 but will not keep more than ten days, therefore it is 

 made in small quantities for immediate use. Vinegar 

 is also made of it." z 



Pliny. " That part of the coast of Africa which 

 borders on the Mediterranean, produces that celebrated 

 tree the Lotus, which the natives call Celtis ; and the 

 same tree is also common with us in Italy, but not 

 indigenous. The chief quantity grow about Syrtes 



y Herodotus, Lib. 4. (Melpomene) 'Axtw £s wgoifctf a-av. 



z This is an extract preserved by Athenaeus, from the 12th 

 book of Polybius, which is lost. 'Is-ro^u vicl t« iv At&Jji. — 



