222 



ON THE ANCIENT 



incense it is burnt in temples and private houses ; as a powder 

 it produces a refreshing effect and becomes also a cooling 

 salve, its oil is used as a cooling remedy. Its beneficent 

 qualities are praised by Indian poets ; in the Bible it is 

 repeatedly mentioned, but it was not much patronized by the 

 Greeks and Romans, who applied it more as a purging 

 medicine. 



The costus of the ancients is the Sanskrit " kushtha," one 

 species came from the neighbourhood of Multan, another 

 from Kabul and Kashmir. The Eomans had a great predi- 

 lection for this root, they used it at sacrifices, its oil was 

 turned into a salve, and they mixed their wines with costus 

 and availed themselves of it as a medicine. One pound sold 

 at 6 dinars or If rupees. The nard, in Sanskrit Nalada, 

 grows on the banks of the Upper Indus, in Nepal, and along 

 the Granges. The reputation of this Valeriana had already 

 spread in early times, the singer of the song of Solomon 

 praises its fragrance. The spikenard possessed at one and 

 the same time leaves and ears, the sweetness of its flavour 

 and its fine red colour were equally esteemed. Its value 

 depended on the size of the leaves and a pound of the best 

 leaves was worth 100 dinars or 30 rupees, the smallest leaves 

 fetching the highest price. 



Bdellium is the gum of a tree, ascribed to Arabia Media, 

 Bactria and India. The tree from which this resin flows, 

 grows still in Eastern Bengal and in Assam. . Most probably 

 it was exported from India, the Bible mentions it in different 

 places. Like Costus it was also used to temper wine, though 

 its medicinal application prevailed. 



Having thus far mentioned the most important plants 

 which the ancients received through their trade with India, 

 we have now to turn our attention to the minerals. 



The first and most important mineral which is said to have 

 been exported from India, is gold. That there were goldmines 



