WESTERN n I N D O O S T A N. 133 



drefs, infomuch that they rejected our kerHes and cloths, which 

 JenkiJifon offered to fide •'•• . 



Nardos Gapanica., or NarduSy from a certain part of India Nardvs^ 

 called Gapana^ is ano.her article of commerce. The Nardus 

 was in high repute in former times, but now is out of fafliion. 

 It was much ufed in form of a pomatum, with which the Ro- 

 mans perfumed their hair. Horace fpeaks of it frequently, on 

 feftive occcafions, and in one exemplifies the antient cuftom 

 of bringing their pretious ointments in a box of Onxx or 

 Alabajlrites : 



" Nardi pan^us Onyx eliciet cadum." 



Old Gerard, p. 1081, fpeaks of its medical virtues in his days. 

 I cannot afcertain the plant. 



The Malebathrum was another valuable drug from this re- Maleeathrca: 

 gion. Fliny, lib. xii. c. 12, and hb. xiii. c. 1, fpeaks highly of 

 it as a perfume, in which it feems to have been an ingredient 

 among many others. The Unguetitum Regale was compofed of 

 not fewer than twenty-fix. That of Syria was alfo in high 

 requeft. Horace fpeaks of his fitting with his old friend, Pojn- 

 peius Varus, at a feaft, crowned with wreaths of flowers, and. 

 highly perfumed : 



" Sspe diem mero 

 " Fregi, coronatus nitentes 

 " Makbathro Syria capillos." 



Pliny gives a very long lift of the perfumes ufed by the Romans. 

 They were moftly pomatums, and confequently not the mofl: 



* Purchas, iii. p. 240. 



delicate. 



