GUMS AND RESINS 



Romans obtained it in the time of Virgil. Besides Oli- 

 banum, frankincense contains Galbanum {Ferula galhaniflua) 

 and Storax {Storax officinale). Equal parts of these were 

 mixed with the horny shield of a certain shell-fish. When 

 the last is burnt, it has a strong pungent odour. The Gal- 

 banum is now found in Persia, and Storax in Asia Minor, 

 both half-desert countries. The true Myrrh {Commiphora 

 myrrha) is also found in East Africa and South-west 

 Arabia. 



The name is supposed to be derived from Myrrha, the 

 daughter of Cinyras, King of Cyprus, who in consequence 

 of a great crime was banished to Arabia and became the 

 tree which bears her name. The myrrh of the Sacred 

 Oracles was used as incense at least 3700 years ago, and it 

 is mentioned by Moses (Genesis xxxvii. 25). 



The sovereign of England used always to present gold, 

 frankincense, and myrrh in the Chapel Royal, London, on 

 the feast of the Epiphany, and, strange though it may 

 appear, the symbolic offering is still made each year by our 

 present king. 



Balm of Gilead (Balsamodendron Gileadense) belongs to 

 scrub or half-desert regions. Cleopatra obtained plants 

 from Jericho for her garden at Heliopolis. The Jews used 

 to sell it regularly to the merchants of Tyre. 



It is still valuable, for the essence i^ worth from £2 to 

 £3 per lb. 



The opoponax described by Dioscorides belongs to the 

 Orient. It yields a valuable gum resin, which is much used 

 in perfumery (Pastinaca opoponax). It also is obtained by 

 incisions in the bark ^ of the tree. 



In fact a very large proportion of these fragrant sweet- 



* Ridley, I.e.; Lindley, I.e.; Maisch, Materia Medica. 

 114 



