308 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



contributions on this drug, but little was left 

 to pay the great charge of bringing it to the 

 coast ; "and here," says Pliny, "the publicans 

 and officers of the customs belonging to the 

 empire must have a fleece, which raises it to 

 so high a price in Rome."* 



At the time when this frankincense was 

 taken to Alexandria, to be tried, refined, and 

 made up for sale, the workmen were naked, 

 excepting short trowsers, which were sowed 

 up and sealed, to prevent the possibility of 

 their concealing any portion of this valuable 

 drug. Their heads were fixed in a mask or 

 caul, lest they should secrete the smallest 

 portion either in their mouths or ears. They 

 were not even suffered to depart after all 

 these precautions, till they were examined 

 when quite uncovered. 



Perfumes were evidently known to the 

 Greeks in the time of Homer, who seems 

 quite at home at the toilet, for, in decorating 

 Juno for her Imperial husband, he says 



a 



Swift to her bright apartment she repairs, 

 Sacred to dress, and Beauty's pleasing cares : 



$fc $F TT $fc *W* W -Tf* 



Here first she bathes ; and round her body pours 

 Soft oils of fragrance, and ambrosial showers : 



* Book xiv. c. 12. 



