1847.] Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, fyc. 43 



not of a particular plant, but of a mode of preparing leaves which was 

 adopted to preserve their odoriferous and aromatic qualities. The mas- 

 ticatory called Malabathrum consisted solely of the leaves of the Tej- 

 patra ; but the perfume, which was designated by the same name, ap- 

 pears to have been prepared from other plants, besides the leaves and 

 wood of Cassia. The unguent of this name was manufactured and 

 sold at Rome by a class of persons who, from the trade or business 

 they followed, were called Malabathrarii (Malabathrarii vocabantur un- 

 guentarii qui malabathrum unguenturn pretiosissimum vendebant.) 

 (Plaut. Aul. III. 5. 37.)* 



Arrian concludes his narrative by stating that all the regions beyond 

 Thina were unexplored, either on account of the severe frosts and the 

 difficulties of travelling, or because it was perhaps the will of the gods 

 to fix these limits to the curiosity of man. This account seems to refer 

 to the region of Uttara-Cura which is described by the Hindoos as inac- 

 cessible to the steps of man, and to the rays of the sun. The name 

 was applied to the north-eastern portion of the Himalayan mountains ; 

 and according to Professor Wilson, this region appears to be the north- 

 eastern part of Assam, designated by Ptolemy — Ottorocaras, and by 

 Ammianus Marcellinus — Opurrocarra. The lofty mountains, which 

 bound the eastern extremity of this valley, belong to the Himalayan 

 range, and are, it is calculated, about 8000 feet in height. 



The country of the Seres is the Thina of Arrian, which I have en- 

 deavoured to identify with Assam. The name of Seres appears to have 

 been applied both to the inhabitants of the valley of Assam and to the 

 hill tribes bordering on it, and hence the Seres of some authors are the 

 Sesatse of the Sequel to the Periplus. 



Pomponius Mela mentions the country of the Seres as situated be- 

 tween India and Scythia, and describes them as a people celebrated for 

 their justice. " They have become known to us," says he, " by their 

 commerce, for they leave their merchandize in the desert and then retire 

 till the merchants they deal with, have left a price or barter for the 

 amount which, upon their departure, the Seres return and take."f ^ ne 



* Syrian Malabathrum was that imported into Europe via Syria " ex India in 

 Syriam (unde Syriaci cognomen) inde in Europam adferebantur." Lexicon Univer- 

 sale, Hoffm. Art. Malabathrum. 



f De situ orbis. Pomp. Melac, Lib. III. C. VII. 



G 2 



