308 ODOEOGRAPHIA. 



from the fleeces of sheep and goats, which must be to some extent 

 contaminated with the offensive rank smell of those animals ; 

 the Ladanisterion may also be employed in Cyprus, but the term 

 " Ladanum e harhd " implies that it is combed from the fleeces. 

 The sum is known to the Greeks as " Zadano," and to the Turks as 

 " Laden " : its correct Persian designation is " RahenUh." 



The gum (Ladanum), is collected entirely in what is known as 

 the " Pyliria " district, which is the hilly country stretching from 

 Yallia to Levka on the north-west of the island of Cyprus. 



The Ladanum when fresh, is packed in little wooden cases, leaves 

 of the Bay tree, or more commonly of the Ceratonia siliquct being 

 laid between the pieces in order to prevent their adhesion. The 

 residue after the fusion and purification of the Ladanum is 

 employed by the Cypriots in the preparation of certain balsams 

 and plasters called Ladano-hcdscham, and of an oil called 

 Ladanoladon, i.e., ladaniferous oil, for which purpose it is combined 

 with terpentine and oil of sessame." 



Dr. Landerer also observes, respecting the Cyprian Ladanum 

 when collected by sheep or goats, that " in addition to the Cistus, 

 various other glutinous plants equally agreeable to the animals 

 occur, and chiefly in moist and w^ell-w^itered situations. These 

 plants to which the names Kcovv^a, ^pco/xLT^a and yjrvWicrTpa are 

 applied, are Erigeroii viscosum, Erigeron graveolens, Inula Critannica, 

 and Inv.la odora ; these (according to Dr. Landerer) being still 

 more gummy than the Cistus itself, contriljute even a larger 

 amount of resinous matter to the animals than that plant. (The 

 names ylrvWoarpa and Kcovv^a are derived from -yjrvWof; (a flea)> 

 and KO}voy\r (a mosquito), on account of an attraccion possessed by 

 the plants for these insects, of which property, and their glutinous 

 nature, advantage is sometimes taken by suspending small branches 

 of them over beds in order to attract and detain these troublesome 

 creatures.) 



" In order to compensate for the loss of fragrance which the 

 admixture of the resin of the Erigeron and other plants would 

 occasion, various odoriferous substances are frequently added. Of 

 these the chief is mastich, that being one of the most esteemed 

 and usual of oriental perfumes." This may account for the 

 terebinthinate odour observable in some samples, and renders it 

 evident that the purest ladanum is that collected in Crete, as the 



