STORAX AS DESCRIBED BY PLINY. 131 



those who pound with storax in very hot weather, either wax or issr. 

 tallow imbued with aromatics, and press it through a strainer 

 having wide openings, into cold water, forming as it were, little 

 worms : they sell this, which they call vermiform Storax. Inex- 

 perienced persons admit it as genuine, not regarding its remark- 

 ably powerful odour : for that which is not fraudulent is some- 

 what strong. 



The particulars given by Pliny in his chapter on Storax, are 

 very minute and explicit, although his supposition that the drug 

 packed in reeds was a natural production and his notion of its 

 being attacked by insects, must be regarded as erroneous. 



The following is Pliny's account : 



" That part of Syria joining up to Judaea, and lying above Account by 

 Phoenicia, produces Storax, which is found in the vicinity of 

 Gabala and Marathus, as also of Casius, a mountain of Seleucia. 

 The tree bears the same name and has a strong resemblance to 

 the quince. The tear has a harsh taste, with a pleasant smell ; 

 in the interior it has all the appearance of a reed, and is filled 

 with a liquid juice. About the rising of the Dog-Star, certain 

 small winged worms hover about this substance and eat it away, 

 for which reason it is often found in a rotten state, with worm- 

 holes full of dust. The Storax next in estimation after that 

 already mentioned, comes from Pisidia, Sidon, Cyprus and Cilicia; 

 that of Crete being considered the very worst of all. That 

 which comes from Mount Amanus, in Syria is highly esteemed 

 for medicinal purposes, and even more so by the perfumers. 

 From whatever country it comes, that which is of a red colour 

 is preferred, and it should be both unctuous as well as viscous to 

 the touch ; the worst kind is that which crumbles like bran, and 

 is covered all over with a whitish mould. This substance is 

 adulterated with the resin of cedar or with gum, and sometimes 

 with honey or bitter almonds ; all which sophistications may, 

 however, be detected by the taste. The price of Storax of the 

 best quality is seventeen denarii per pound. 1 It comes also 

 from Pamphylia, but this last is more arid and not so full of 

 juice." 2 



The localities here mentioned include those cited by Dios- 

 corides: and most of them can be identified. Gabala is the 



1 Equal to 16s. per Ib. avoirdupois. 



2 Pliny's Natural History, Bostock and Riley's translation, book xij. 

 chap. 55. 



K 2 



