BOOK XII. XXXII. 58-60 



loosened with a blow, but not removed. From 

 the incision a greasy foam spurts out, which co- 

 agulates and thickens, being received on a mat of 

 palm-leaves where the nature of the ground requires 

 this, but in other places on a space round the tree 

 that has been rammed hard. The frankincense 

 collected in the latter way is in a purer state, but 

 the former method produces a heavier weight ; while 

 the residue adhering to the tree is scraped off with 

 an iron tool, and consequently contains fragments of 

 bark. The forest is divided up into definite portions, 

 and owing to the mutual honesty of the owners is 

 free from trespassing, and though nobody keeps guard 

 over the trees after an incision has been made, 

 nobody steals from his neighbour. At Alexandria, on 

 the other hand, where the frankincense is worked up 

 for sale, good heavens ! no vigilance is sufficient to 

 guard the factories. A seal is put upon the work- 

 men's aprons, they have to wear a mask or a net 

 with a close mesh on their heads, and before they 

 are allowed to leave the premises they have to take 

 off all their clothes : so much less honesty is dis- 

 played with regard to the produce with them than 

 as to the forests with the growers. The frankin- 

 cense from the summer crop is collected in autumn ; 

 this is the purest kind, bright white in colour. The 

 second crop is harvested in the spring, cuts having 

 been made in the bark during the winter in 

 preparation for it ; the juice that comes out on this 

 occasion is reddish, and not to be compared with 

 the former taking, the name for which is carfiathum, 

 the other being called dathiathum. Also the juice 

 produced by a sapUng is beheved to be whiter, but 

 that from an older tree has more scent. Some 



43 



