APPENDIX. 27 



*W***$&* 



SASSA, MYRRH, and OPOCALPASUM. 



T the time when I was on the borders of the Tal-Tal, 

 or Troglodyte country, I fought to procure myfelf 

 branches and bark of the myrrh- tree, enough prefer ved to 

 be able to defcribe it and make a defign ; but the length and 

 ^ruggednefs of the way, the heat of the weather, and the 

 carelelTnefs and want of refources of naked favages always 

 difappointed me. In thofe goat-fkin bags into which I had 

 often ordered them to put fmall branches, I always found 

 the leaves moftly in powder; fome few that were entire feem- 

 •ed to refemble much the acacia vera, but were wider to- 

 wards the extremity, and* more pointed immediately at the 

 end. In what order the leaves grew I never could deter- 

 mine. The bark was abfolutely like that of the acacia ve- 

 ra ; and among the leaves I often met with a fmall, ftraight, 

 weak thorn, about two inches long. 



These were all the circumflances I could combine rela- 

 tive to the myrrh-tree, too vague and uncertain to riik-a 

 drawing upon, when there ft ill remained fo many defiderata 

 ^concerning it ; and as the king was obftinate not to let me 

 Vol. V. F g Q 



