BOOK XII. XIX. 36-xxi. 38 



sort is moister, and gummy. Almonds are used to Trade 

 adulterate Indian bdellium, but all the other sorts are "/"p^^^Mr* 

 adulterated also with the bark of scordastum, that detecium. 

 being the name of a tree that resembles the gum. 

 But these adulterations can be detected — and it 

 must be enough to state this once for all, to apply 

 to all other perfumes as well — by smell, colour, 

 weight, taste and the action of fire. The Bactrian 

 bdellium is shiny and dry, and has a number 

 of white spots Uke finger-nails ; and also it has a 

 specific weight of its own and ought not to be 

 heavier or Hghter than this. The price of pure 

 bdellium is 3 denarii a pound. 



XX. Adjoining the races above mentioned is Treesof 

 Persia. On the Red Sea, M'hich at this point we have '^""" 

 called ^ the Persian Gulf, the tides of which are 

 carried a long way inland, the trees* are of a re- 

 markable nature ; for they are to be seen on the 

 coast when the tide is out, embracing the barren 

 sands with their naked roots hke polypuses, eaten 

 away by the salt and looking like trunks that have 

 been washed ashore and left high and dry. Also 

 these trees when the tide rises remain motionless 

 although beaten by the waves ; indeed at high 

 water they are completely covered, and the evidence 



of the facts clearly proves that this species of tree 

 is nourished by the brackish water. They are of 

 marvellous size, and in appearance they resemble 

 the strawberry-tree, but their fruit is Hke almonds 

 outside and contains a spiral kernel. 



XXI. In the same ffulf is the island of Tyros,^ which ^'"«^* ''/'^* 



1 • I 1- -1 r ■ " 1 Persian 



is covered with lorests m tiie part lacmg east, where isiands: the 

 it also is flooded by the sea at high tide. Each of the '^ttS^'Sem 

 trees is the size of a fiff-tree ; they have a flower with ^rees suppiy- 



* -^ ingcioth. 



27 



