Chap. 11.] AMBER. 401 



but for a person seriously to advance such an absurdity with 

 reference to a thing so common as amber, which is imported 

 every day and so easily proves the mendacity of this assertion, 

 is neither more nor less than to evince a supreme contempt 

 for the opinions of mankind, and to assert with impunity an 

 intolerable falsehood. 



(3.) There can be no doubt that amber is a product of the 

 islands of the Northern Ocean, and that it is the substance by 

 the Germans called ** glsesum ;"®* for which reason the Eomans, 

 when Germanicus Caesar commanded the fleet in those parts, 

 gave to one of these islands the name of Glaesaria,^* which by the 

 barbarians was known as Austeravia. Amber is produced from 

 a marrow discharged by trees belonging to the pine^^ genus, like 

 gum from the cherry, and resin from the ordinary pine. It is 

 a liquid at first, which issues forth in considerable quantities, 

 and is gradually hardened by heat or cold, or else by the action 

 of the sea, when the rise of the tide carries off the fragments 

 from the shores of these islands. At all events, it is thrown 

 up upon the coasts, in so light and voluble a form that in the 

 shallows it has all the appearance of hanging suspended in the 

 water. Our forefathers, too, were of opinion that it is the juice 

 of a tree, and for this reason gave it the name of " succinum :"®^ 

 and one great proof that it is the produce of a tree of the pine 

 genus, is the fact that it emits a pine-like smell when rubbed, 

 and that it burns, when ignited, with the odour and appearance 

 of torch-pine wood. 



Amber is imported by the Germans into Pannonia, more 

 particularly ; from whence the Veneti, by the Greeks called 

 Eneti, first brought it into general notice, a people in the 

 vicinity of Pannonia, and dwelling on the shores of the 

 Adriatic Sea. Prom this it is evident how the story which 

 connects it with the Padus first originated ; and at the present 

 day we see the female peasantry in the countries that lie 

 beyond that river wearing necklaces of amber, principally 

 as an ornament, no doubt, but on account of its remedial virtues 

 as well ; for amber, it is generally believed, is good for affec- 



81 See B. iv. c.c. 27, 30, and the Notes. "5 gee B. iv. c. 30. 



ss It is just possible that the Pinites succinifer may have still existed, 

 to some extent, eighteen hundred years ago. See Note 6-5 above. 

 *^ From " succus," "juice." 

 VOL. VI. D D 



