BOOK XII. xxxiii. 66-xxxv. 68 



XXXIII. Some authorities have stated that myrrh Myrrh: us 

 is the product of a tree growing in the same forests locaiuies. 

 among the frankincense-trees, but the majority say 



that it grows separately ; and in fact it occurs in 

 many places in Arabia, as will appear when we deal ^ 

 with its varieties. A kind highly spoken of is also ^^ 

 imported from islands, and the Sabaei even cross 

 the sea to the Cave-dwellers' Country^ to procure 

 it. Also a cultivated variety is produced which is 

 much preferred to the wild kind. The plant enjoys 

 being rakcd and having the soil round it loosened, 

 as it is the better for having its roots cool. 



XXXIV. The tree grows to a height of nearly eight 

 feet; it has thorns on it, and the trunk is hard and 

 twisted, and thicker than that of the frankincense-tree, 

 and even thicker at the root than in the remaining 

 part of it. Authorities state that the bark is smooth 

 and resembles that of the strawberry-tree, and others 

 that it is rough and prickly ; and they say that the 

 leaf is that of the oUve, but more wrinkled and with 

 sharp points — though Juba says it is Hke that of the 

 alexanders. Some say that it resembles the juniper, 

 only that it is rougher and bristhng with thorns, and 

 that the leaf is rounder but tastes hke juniper. Also 

 there have been writers who have falsely asserted 

 that the frankincense-tree produces myrrh as well as 

 frankincense. 



XXXV. The myrrh-producing tree also is tapped 

 twice a year at the same seasons as the frankincense- 

 tree,but in its case the incisions are made all the way up 

 from the root to those of the branches that are strong 

 enough to bear it. But before it is tapped the tree 

 exudes of its own accord a juice called stacte, which is 

 the most higlily valued of all myrrh. Next after 



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