1847.] Periphts of the Erythrean Sea, fyc. 23 



transported to a distance, it is obvious that they are not identical. It has 

 also been regarded as tea, but it is now generally admitted, as will be 

 afterwards shown, to be the leaf of the Cinnamomum albrflorum, which 

 abounds in the valleys along the foot of the hills from Sylhet to Mus- 

 souri. It appears to have been prepared for exportation in the vicinity 

 of the places where it grows, and was thence conveyed to the Gangetic 

 mart to be shipped to the ports of Southern India. 



Gangetic spikenard was so called, it is supposed, by Dr. Vincent, be- 

 cause it passed through the mart on the Ganges. It is the Nardosta- 

 chys Jatamanshi, a species of Valerian, which grows in Bhotan, and 

 which was imported into the Gangetic mart from Rhandaramacotta or 

 the modern Rungpore. Pliny mentions a variety of nard which grew on 

 the banks of the Ganges, but as it is described by him as having a strong 

 disagreeable taste, on which account it was designated Ozanitis, and as 

 it was held in no estimation, it is not probable that it is the article re- 

 ferred to in the Periplus. Marco Polo mentions spikenard among the 

 articles of export from Bengal in his time. 



The pearls that passed through the Gangetic mart appear to have 

 been obtained from the rivers of the eastern part of Bengal. Though 

 small and of inferior quality, these pearls were, no doubt as much 

 in demand among the poor, as the more valuable pearls from Perimula, 

 Ceylon, and the Persian Gulf were among the rich. The Romans pur- 

 chased pearls wherever they were to be obtained, and are said to have* 

 even invaded Britain for the sake of the pearls that are found in one of 

 the rivers of Wales.* Robertson remarks : " Among all the articles of 

 luxury, the Romans seem to have given the preference to pearls. Per- 

 sons of every rank purchased them with eagerness ; they were worn on 

 every part of dress, and there is such a difference both in size and in 

 value among pearls that while such as were large and of superior lustre 

 adorned the wealthy and the great, smaller ones and of inferior quality 

 gratified the vanity of persons in more humble stations of life."f It 

 seems not improbable, therefore, from the ready market which pearls 

 of every kind and quality met with at Rome, that the inferior pearls of 

 the eastern part of Bengal were exported in ancient times. They are 

 found in a species of muscle in the rivers and marshes of the Dacca, 

 Tipperah, and Mymensing districts, and are collected by the Buddeahs, 



* The river Conway. Vide Suetonius. f Robertson's Ancient India, p. 58. 



