306 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



has furnished us with, the leaves of this shrub 

 are made to resemble those of rue, and the 

 white blossoms are of a star-like form, from 

 the centre of which grows a berry, pointed 

 at the extremity, containing a kernel or seed. 

 This author tells us, that Madame de Ville- 

 favin,had possessed herself of fourteen ounces 

 of this precious balm, which he saw, and that 

 it was of a bright gold colour, had the per- 

 fume of the citron, and was of a firm con- 

 sistency.* 



" Indus alone can swarthy ebon boast, 

 As fragrant incense the Sabsean coast." 



Virgil. 



The sweet incense, or frankincense, which 

 was also used both in the worship of the true 

 God, and on the altars of the profane tem- 

 ples, was a produce of Arabia Felix, and was 

 drawn from trees in a manner similar to the 

 balm. 



Pliny informs us, that, when Alexander 

 was but a child, he threw incense on the altar 

 so unsparingly at a sacrifice, that Leonidas, 

 his tutor, slightly checked him with this re- 

 proof, " Sire ! you should throw incense in 

 that manner, when you have conquered the 



# Livre vii. chap. 44. 



