PERFUMES OF THE ROSE. 39 



roses were most frequently used, because they grew everywhere 

 in the greatest abundance. 



Perfumes of every kind were more abundantly used among 

 the ancient Greeks and Romans, than at the present day. 

 Athenseus, in his Feast of Wise Men, states that nearly all of 

 these were drawn from the Rose, and says that the most sweet 

 were those of Gyrene, while those of Naples, Capua, and Faseoli, 

 were the best and most delightful of all. 



This agrees with the subsequent researches made on the same 

 subject, by D'Orbessan. "The cities of Naples, Capua, and Pre- 

 neste," says the latter, " obtained their roses from Campania, where 

 there is yet a considerable tract of land, commonly called 11 maz- 

 zone delle Rose. 



" This field is sometimes called Rosetinus, on account of the 

 prodigious quantity of roses which grow there without culture, 

 and in greater abundance than in any other section of that 

 country." 



Athenseus states that the perfume of roses was frequently used 

 in culinary preparations, and gives a curious receipt for a sort of 

 pot-pourri, made by the cook of the King of Sicily. " This is 

 what I call potted roses, and it is thus prepared : I first pound 

 some of the most fragrant roses in a mortar ; then I take the 

 brains of birds and pigs, well boiled and stripped of every particle 

 of meat ; I then add the yolks of some eggs, some oil, a little 

 cordial, some pepper, and some wine : after having beaten and 

 mixed it well together, I throw it in a new pot, and place it over 

 a slow, but steady fire." " As he said these things," so runs the 

 story, "the cook uncovered the pot, and there issued forth a 

 most delicious fragrance, perfuming the whole dining-hall and 

 overcoming the guests with delight." This is a point in gastro- 

 nomic luxury to which Americans have not yet attained. 



Although the perfume of roses was considered more choice 

 than any other, it was frequently used when men were least in 

 the state to enjoy it ; for D'Orbessan states that slaves were made 

 to burn it around their masters while sleeping. 



If the essential oil of roses was known in the time of Pliny, 



