10 A DISCOURSE 



iJOOK 11. all the preparations of burying in holes made in the earth and sand, 

 "'^'^'^ in which they are apter to rot, may more safely be done by exposing 



the clogs discreetly to the sun, or before a soft and gentle fire, or, I think, 



best of all, by soaking them in warm w^ater. 



The lachrymag, gum, and other transudations serve more for unguents 

 and the chirurgeon's box, than for other medicaments, in which we 

 find Pliny has little faith. But that which is more remarkable, is the 

 virtue of the famous timber of this noble tree, being proof against all 

 putrefaction of human and other bodies, above all other ingredients and 

 composition of embalmers ; and that by a pretty contradiction, giving 

 life, as it were, to the dead, and destroying the w^orms which are living, 

 as it does where any goods are kept in chests and presses of the wood, 

 excepting woollen cloth and furs, which it is observed they corrupt. — 

 In the mean time, touching the manner of these operations, as it concerns 

 the preservation of the dead, see more where we speak of Cypress ; the 

 effects being ascribed to the extreme bitterness of the resinous juices, 

 whilst the odour is most grateful. The worthy Mr. Hay mentions the 

 powder and saw^-dust of Cedar to be one of the greatest secrets used by 

 our poUinctors and mountebanks, who pretend to this embalming 

 mystery ; and indeed, that the dust and very chips are exitial to moths 

 and worms, daily experience shews us ; though none in mine, better 

 than the dried leaves and stalks of Marum Syriacum, familiarly planted 

 in om* gardens. What, therefore, the late traveller, Dampier, speaks of 

 Cedar, which he has seen worm-eaten, could neither be that of Libanus 

 or Bermudas, but haply of Barbadoes, Jamaica, or some other species. — 

 Note, that the Cedar is of so dry a nature, that it does not w^ell endure 

 to be fastened with nails, from which it usually shrinks, and therefore pins 

 of the same w^ood are better. Whatever other property this noble tree 

 is deservedly famous for, it is said to yield an oil, which above all other, 

 best preserves the monuments of the learned, books and writings ; whence 

 Cedro Dignus became one of the highest eulogies 



Touching the diuturnity of this material, it is recorded, that in the 

 temple of Apollo at Utica, there were found sound beams of Numidian 



^ sic ex Cedro oleum, ' quod cedreum dicitur, nascitur : quo reliquae res cum sunt 



unctae, uti etiam libri, a tineis et a carie non laeduntur. Vitruvius. 



