62 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



This plant was doubtless introduced from Hindostan, or perhaps, 

 originally from the Malay countries. 



The sxinos of Herodotus, Theophrastus, and others, according to 

 the received opinion and Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage, is the 

 masticlh-tree (Pistacia lentiscus). — Mastich is mentioned by Dioscorides 

 and Pliny, and Paulus JEgineta speaks of an Egyptian kind ; but the 

 living tree appears to be unknown in Egypt. 



In Egypt, gum ladanum (the product of one or more indigenous 

 species of Cistus) is called " laden ;" in which word we recognise, 

 the "ahaanon procured by the Arabians" of Herodotus iii. 107. — 

 Pliny states, that "ladanum" is produced in the Nabathgean district, 

 and in Cyprus ; but at the present day, according to Forskal (Mat. 

 Med.), this gum is imported into Egypt from Crete. 



Gum-arabic, the product of Acacia gummifera, is mentioned by 

 Herodotus and Pliny. — A small quantity is known to be procured 

 in the Sinai Peninsula ; but the principal source of the gum-arabic 

 of commerce, is the Somali country. The living tree was seen by Delile 

 in Upper Egypt : I did not meet with it ; nor with any wild Acacia 

 in Egypt that exceeded the dimensions of a shrub. 



The aibanhtos tree of Herodotus iii. 107, and the " turea virga" of 

 Virgil (Geor. ii. 117), or frankincense-wood, are referred by Sprengel 

 to the Amyris kafal. — This tree grows in Yemen ; and according to 

 Forskal, its wood is exported in large quantities to Egypt. 



The erMBrA of Euripides (Rhes. 508), Aristophanes, Demochares, 

 Theophrastus, and Atheneeus v. 12, according to Tournefort's and 

 Sibthorp's account of the Greek usage, is the Satureja thymbra. — This 

 plant is indigenous in the Grecian Archipelago ; and being noticed by 

 Athenseus, was probably once known in Egypt. 



The coronary miaah of Euripides, Pherecrates, Aristophanes, and 

 Athenseus, according to the received opinion, is the Smilax aspera: 

 which is said to have odorous flowers. — Callixenus speaks of branches, 

 used in the festival of Ptolemy Philadelphus ; doubtless imported ; for 

 the Smilax being a woodland plant, is of course unknown in Egypt. 



The ENGrrsKON of Pherecrates, Theophrastus, Columella, and Dios- 

 corides, is referred by C. Bauhin to the Chmrophyllum sativum. — Pliny 

 xxi. 52, enumerates the "anthriscum" among the esculent plants of 

 Egypt : and the C. sativum, was seen by Forskal and Delile in gardens 

 at Cairo. 



