BOOK XII. Li. 109-LIV. III 



LI. A tree found in Egypt is the cypros,^ which 

 has the leaves of the jujube-tree and the white, 

 scented seed of the coriander. Cypros-seed is boiled 

 in ohve oil and afterwards crushed, producing the 

 cypros of commerce, which sells at 5 denarii a pound. 

 The best is made from the tree grown at Canopus on 

 the banks of the Nile, the second best at Ascalon in 

 Judaea, and the third quality on the island of 

 Cyprus, which has a sort of sweet scent. The 

 cypros is said to be the same as the thorn called 

 privet in Italy. 



LII. In the same region grows the aspalathus, a Scented 

 white thorn of the size of a moderate-sized tree, ^^"' 

 with the flower of a rose ; the root is in request for 

 unguents. People say that any shrub over which a 

 rainbow forms its arch gives out a scent as sweet as 

 that of the aspalathus, but that if this happens in the 

 case of an aspalathus a scent rises that is indescribably 

 sweet. Some call this shrub red sceptre and others 

 sceptre. The test of its genuineness Ues in its fiery 

 red colour, firmness to the touch and scent hke 

 that of beaver-oil. It is sold for 5 denarii a 

 pound. LIII. Cat-thyme * also grows in Egypt, 

 though not so good a kind as the Lydian variety, 

 its leaves being larger and variegated : those of the 

 Lydian are short and very small, and have a strong 

 scent. 



LIV. But every other scent ranks below hahcim. <^ Baisamof 

 The only country to which this plant has been j^.^^^y^^^^J 

 vouchsafed is Judaea, where formerly it grew in only 

 two gardens, both belonging to the king ; one of them 

 was of not more than twenty iugera in extent and the 

 other less. This variety of shrub was exhibited to 

 the capital by the emperors Vespasian and Titus ; 



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