DR. G. BIRDWOOD ON THE GENUS BOSWELLIA. 117 
trees of frankincense and myrrh, palm-trees, calamus, and cinnamon, and such like 
odoriferous plants; for none can enumerate the several natures and properties of so 
great a multitude, or the excellency of those sweet odours that breathe out of every one 
ofthem. For their fragrancy is such, that it even ravishes the senses with delight, as 
a thing divine and unutterable ; it entertains them that sail along by the coast at a 
great distance with its pleasures and delights. For in spring-time the winds from off 
the land waft the air, perfumed with the sweet odours of myrrh and other odoriferous 
plants, to those parts of the sea that are next to them. And these spices have nothing 
of a faint and languishing.smell, as those that come to our hands, but a strong and 
vigorous odour, that strongly pierces all their senses to the utmost of their capacity ; 
for the wafts of air dispersing the perfumes of these odoriferous plants, abundance of 
pleasant, healthful, and strange variety of scents (proceeding from the richest spices) are 
conveyed to them that sail near unto the coast. For this sweet smell comes not from 
' fruit bruised in a mortar (whose strength is in a great measure decayed) or from spices ` 
made up in divers sorts of vessels for transportation; but from the ripeness ofthe fruit 
as it grows, and from the pure and divine nature of the plant itself. So that they that 
have the advantage of these sweet odours, seem as if they were entertained with that 
feigned meat of the gods called ambrosia, since those excellent perfumes cannot have a 
name ascribed them transcending their worth and dignity. 
“Yet fortune has not imparted to men an entire and unmixed felicity in these things; 
but has joined some inconveniencies with these advantages, to correct them who (through 
a constant confluence of earthly blessings) have usually despised and slighted the gods. 
For these fragrant forests abound with red serpents of a span long, whose bite is deadly 
and incurable. They strike a man with a violent assault, leaping up in his very face, 
leaving him besmeared with his own blood. 
“The capital city of this nation is called Saba, and stands upon a high hill; they are 
governed by kings, who inherit the crown by descent; yet the honour allowed them by 
their subjects is such, as that they are in some respects, notwithstanding, in a sort of 
bondage and slavery; for though they seem to be privileged in this, that they have a 
sovereign and absolute power in making laws, and are not to give an account of any of 
their actions to their subjects; yet they are as unhappy in this, that they are never to 
stir out of their palace; for if they do, the people stone them to death, for so they are 
commanded by an ancient oracle. | 
. A * This nation not only excels all the neighbouring barbarians in wealih, but all other 
. people whatsoever for plenty of every thing that is accounted precious; for in their 
_ traffic, for a thing of a very small weight, they receive a greater sum of money than any 
9ther merchants that sell goods for silver. : 
“ Being, therefore, that they never were conquered, by reason of the largeness of their 
country, they flow, as it were, in streams of gold and silver, especially at Saba, the seat- 
royal of their kings; their vessels, and all their cups are of gold and silver, and likewise 
their beds, chairs, and stools have their feet of silver ; and all other their household stuff 
is so sumptuous and magnificent, that it is incredible. The porticoes of their houses 
and temples are some of them overlaid with gold; and silver statues are placed upon . 
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