ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IX. iv. 4-6 



been made both in the stems and in the branches, 

 but that, while the stems looked as if they had 

 been cut with an axe, in the branches the incisions 

 were slighter ; also that in some cases the gum 

 was dropping, but that in others it remained sticking 

 to the tree ; and that in some places mats woven of 

 palm-leaves were put underneath, while in some the 

 ground underneath was merely made level and 

 clean; and that the frankincense on the mats was 

 clear and transparent, that collected on the ground 

 less so ; and that that which remained sticking to 

 the trees they scraped off with iron tools, wherefore 

 sometimes pieces of bark remained in it. The 

 whole range, they said, belongs to the portion of 

 the Sabaeans ; for it is under their sway, and they 

 are honest in their dealings with one another. 

 Wherefore no one keeps watch ; so that these sailors 

 greedily took, they said, and put on board their 

 ships some of the frankincense and myrrh, since 

 there was no one about, and sailed away. They also 

 reported another thing which they said they had 

 been told, that the myrrh and frankincense are 

 collected from all parts into the temple of the 

 sun ; and that this temple is the most sacred thing 

 which the Sabaeans of that region possess, and it is 

 guarded by certain Arabians in arms. Arid that 

 when they have brought it, each man piles up his 

 own contribution of frankincense and the myrrh 

 in like manner, and leaves it with those on guard ; 

 and 011 the pile he puts a tablet on which is stated 

 the number of measures which it contains, and the 

 price for which each measure should be sold l ; and 

 that, when the merchants come, they look at the 

 tablets, and whichsoever pile pleases them, they 



237 



