28 



TROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. 0.'). 



refei-red to in the Scriptures. The pulp of the fruit is etlible; the peel is ;iii 

 efficient astringent. Cat. No. 52.535, U.S.X.M. 



Frankincense. — A fragrant gum resin obtained from various species of Bos- 

 vellia trees, natives of eastern Africa and southern Arabia. Paintings, dating 

 from the seventeenth centur.v 15. C, illustrating the traffic in this drug, have 

 been found in the temples of Upper Egypt. It was one of the gifts of the 

 Magi to the infant Saviour. It was, and still is, an essential ingredient of 

 " incense " as used in religious ceremonies. Fumigation with fragrant drugs, 

 of which frankincense was one of the most important, was one of the principnl 

 remedial and preventive measures in the treatment of disease by the ancient 

 Egyptians and Hebrews. Cat. No. 52,559, U.S.N.M. 



iznuti^ 



lUtilll 





s.^^p 



,^^eG> 





*5/;^f 



z^%^ m^mm ^^ 



X 







THE ABOVE TRANSLATED INTO THE HIEROGLYPHIC CHARACTER 



^3 tena 



,^- oiii X 





^% 



w 





'<C€ne 





(^/o caii ^/ietHcxnejJ o/ ^ne ■^cuta^ 





ir° 





HI 



_n ri^ 



X 



•4 Ulacnme 



Flu. 1 



Will ^tis^-" 



Vwv. Lines i iimi the Papyrus Ebeks, with Traxslatioxs into IIikroci.yphic 

 Characters and ixto English. 



Coriander. — The fruit of Corlanclrum sativum. The knowledge of this drug 

 is of very great antiquity, bo'ing mentioned in the Papyrus Ebers, and by the 

 early Sanskrit writers, as well as in the Bible. It was used both as a condi- 

 ment and a medicine. Cat. No. 52,659, U.S.N.M. 



Medicine vials. — Made l)y the inliabitants of Palestine. Used for dispensing 

 medicines. (Fig. IS.) Cat. No. 143,168. U.S.N.M. 



Gum arabic. — A gummy exudation from various species of Acacia. It is 

 recorded that this drug was an article of Egyptian commerce as early as the 

 seventeenth century, B. C. CaL No. 52.811, U.S.N.M. 



Balm of (Ulead. — An aromatic resin which flows from the trunk of Com- 

 miphora opohalsamum. .Used for its perfume as well as its healing virtues. 



