398 THE 1>ATU11AL HISTORY REYIEW. 



Cypriiim), and of the Cypress (Citpressus). Tlie name KOwpot: is 

 identified with Gopher, a Hebrew word, which was applied to a shrub 

 whose flowers and fruit were used to make an ointment. Pliny de- 

 scribes this G-opher or Cupros shrub, and his description evidently 

 points to Lawsonia alba, Lam., the well-known Henna shrub, which 

 is certainly not a native of Cyprus, and though abundantly cultivated 

 there 150 years ago, is now scarcely known. As there was never any 

 demand for this plant in western Europe, it could never have been an 

 article of trade between Cyprus and the west, so that Pliny must be 

 in error, and some other plant must be looked for. Now, as Pliny 

 himself, after following Herodotus in giving Arabia as the native coun- 

 try of Ladanum, says that the Arabian sort is now called Stoholon, and 

 that the true resin is obtained from Cyprus, and that in both coun- 

 tries it is obtained from the beards of goats. Dr. linger believes that 

 the name Cupros properly belongs to the Ladanum Cistus, one of 

 the most characteristic shrubs of the island. 



The accounts of the production of Storax, and of Mastic, are also 

 very interesting, but our space will not allow of our entering upon 

 them. 



In conclusion, we must once again repeat the complaint so often 

 made of the want of an index to the present work, by which 

 the usefulness of an extremely interesting book is considerably 

 lessened. 



