328 plint's natural history. [Book XV. 



the mulberry for its cartilaginous consistency, and nuts for 

 their kernels. Some fruits in Egypt are esteemed for their 

 skin; the carica, 21 for instance. This skin, which in the 

 green fig is thrown away as so much refuse peeling, when the 

 fig is dried is very highly esteemed. In the papyrus, 32 

 the ferula, 23 and the white thorn 24 the stalk itself constitutes 

 the fruit, and the shoots of the fig-tree 25 are similarly 

 employed. 



Among the shrubs, the fruit of the caper 26 is eaten along 

 with the stalk ; and in the carob, 27 what is the part that is 

 eaten but so much wood ? Nor ought we to omit one pecu- 

 liarity that exists in the seed of this fruit — it can be called 

 neither flesh, wood, nor cartilage, and yet no other name has 

 been found for it. 



CHAP. 35. (29). THE MYRTLE. 



The nature of the juices that are found in the myrtle are 

 particularly remarkable, for it is the only one 28 of all the trees, the 

 berries of which produce two kinds of oil 29 as well as of wine, 

 besides myrtidanum, 30 of which we have already spoken. The 

 berry of this was also put to another use in ancient times, for 

 before pepper 31 was known it was employed in place of it as a 

 seasoning ; so much so, indeed, that a name has been derived 

 from it for the highly-seasoned dish which to this day is known 

 by the name of " myrtatum." 32 It is by the aid of these ber- 

 ries, too, that the flavour of the flesh of the wild boar is 

 improved, and they generalty form one of the ingredients in 

 the flavouring of our sauces. 



CHAP. 36. HISTORICAL ANECDOTES RELATIVE TO THE MYRTLE. 



This tree was seen for the first time in the regions of 



2i Or " Carian " fig. See c. 19 of this Book. 



22 See B. xiii. c. 11. 



23 See B. xiii. c. 42, and B. xx. cc. 9 and 23. 



24 See B. xiii. c. 26, and B. xxiv. c. 66. 



25 See B. xiii. c. 22. Fee remarks that it is singular how the ancients 

 could eat the branches of the fig-tree, the juice being actually a poison. 



26 See B. xiii. c. 44. 2 ? See c. 26 of this Book. 



28 He is wrong : the same is the case with the berries of the laurel, and, 

 indeed, many other kinds of berries. 



29 See c. 7 of this Book. 30 See B. xiv. c. 9. 



31 See B. xii. c. 14. 



32 A kind of sausage, seasoned with myrtle. See also B. xxvii c. 49. 



