378 PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



According to the English and the Septuagint Versions, franMncense, 

 (the product of the BoswelHa,) is mentioned in the books of Moses. 

 This substance, was doubtless imported through the medium of the 

 Arabs; as is intimated in Jeremiah vi. 20; and as is expressly stated 

 by Herodotus. 



Some remarks respecting cinnamon, another article of traffic men- 

 tioned in the books of Moses, have been already given in a pre- 

 ceding chapter. 



Balm, (the product of the Amyris opobalsamum,) is mentioned in the 

 books of Moses; and is known to have formed at a later period, an 

 object of cultivation in Palestine. Josephus, mentions a tradition, 

 that " the balm-tree was introduced into Palestine by the Queen of 

 Sheba;" and so far as the place of origin is concerned, this account 

 may be compared with the statement of Slrabo. 



The myrrli, mentioned in the books of Moses, was perhaps, trans- 

 ported by land from Yemen. The Somali country, is the princi- 

 pal source of the myrrh of commerce; but I learned at Mocha, that 

 a portion, is actually produced in Yemen. Herodotus, speaks of 

 myrrh ; and the myrrh tree, is distinctly described by Theo- 

 phrastus. 



The 'shittim wood' of the books of Moses, is supposed to be the 

 wood of an Acacia; and it has been ascertained, that two species, 

 {A. seyal and A. gummifera,) in some instances becoming arbores- 

 cent, grow wild in the Sinai Peninsula. It appears, moreover, 

 that gum-arabic, is actually collected there; though the principal 

 source of this article of commerce, is the Somali country. Gum- 

 arabic, is mentioned, by both Herodotus and Pliny. 



I did not, while in Egypt, distinguish the above two species of Acacia; 

 but I met with no wild plant, attaining the dimensions of a tree. I 

 frequently observed the ' sont' {A. Nilotica), planted around villages 

 on the margin of the desert ; and as mentioned by Herodotus, the 

 timber is used in the construction of river-barges. 



The bean (Vicia faba), is mentioned in Samuel and in Ezekiel; and 

 under the name still current in Egypt. — At the present day, this 

 plant, forms one of the principal objects of cultivation in Egypt; 

 for the sake of both the seeds and stems. 



In reference to the almug-trees brought in the ships of Solomon, I 

 would observe; that at the present day, the joists used to support 

 the floors and flat roofs at Mocha, are imported ready-made from 

 Zanzibar. 



