BOOK XII. Liv. 123-LV. 125 



of pure balsam thickens in warm water, settling to 

 the bottom of the vessel, whereas when adulterated 

 it floats on the top hke oil, and if it has been tampered 

 with by using metopium, a white ring forms round it. 

 The best test of all is that it will cause milk to curdle 

 and will not leave stains on cloth. In no other case is 

 more obvious fraud practised, inasmuch as every pint 

 bought at a sale of confiscated property for 300 

 denarii when it is sold again makes 1000 denarii : so 

 much does it pay to increase the quantity of adultera- 

 tion. The price of wood-balsam is six denarii a pound. 



LV. The region of Syria beyond Phoenicia nearest styrax 

 to Judaea produces styrax in the part round Gabala SSw). 

 and Marathus and Mount Casius in Seleucia. The 

 tree has the same name ; it is similar to a quince. Its 

 tears have a pleasant, almost pungent scent, and inside 

 it resembles a reed, and is full of juice. About the 

 rising of the Dog-star certain httle maggots with 

 wings flutter about this tree, gnawing away the wood, 

 and consequently it is fouled with their scrapings. 

 The styrax esteemed next to the above-named 

 growths comes from Pisidia, Side, Cyprus and Cihcia, 

 and that from Crete is rated lowest; that from 

 Mount Amanus in Syria is valued by the medical 

 profession, but even more by perfumiers. In every 

 nation a red colour and sticky consistency are 

 preferred, and styrax that is brown and covered with 

 white mould is considered inferior. It is adulterated 

 with cedar « resin or gum, and another way employs 

 honey or bitter almonds; all these adulterations can 

 be detected by their taste. The price of the best 

 styrax is 17 denarii. It is also produced in Pamphyha, 

 but this is a drier and less juicy kind. 



• Cf. p. 128 note h. 



87 



