Chap. 33.] 
MYBEH. 
129 
miles, the distance being divided into sixty-five days' journey 
by camel. There are certain portions also of the frankincense 
which are given to the priests and the king's secretaries : and 
in addition to these, the keepers of it, as well as the soldiers 
who guard it, the gate-keepers, and various other employes, 
have their share as well. And then besides, all along the 
route, there is at one place water to pay for, at another fodder, 
lodging at the stations, and various taxes and imposts besides ; 
the consequence of which is, that the expense for each camel 
before it arrives at the shores of our^^ sea is six hundred and 
eighty-eight denarii ; after all this, too, there are certain pay- 
ments still to be made to the farmers of the revenue of our 
empire. Hence it is that a pound of the best frankincense 
sells at six denarii, the second quality five, and the third 
three. Among us, it is adulterated with drops of white resin, 
a substance which bears a strong resemblance to it : but the 
fraud may be easily detected by the methods which have 
been already mentioned. It is tested by the following qua- 
lities ; its whiteness, size, brittleness, and the readiness with 
which it takes fire when placed on heated coals ; in addition 
to which, it should not give to the pressure of the teeth, but 
from its natural brittleness crumble all to pieces. 
, CHAP. 33. (15.) MYKEH. 
I According to some authors, myrrh is the produce of a tree 
that grows in the same forests as the incense- tree, though 
most say that they grow in different places : but the fact is 
that myrrh grows in many parts of Arabia, as will be seen 
when we come to speak of the several varieties of it. A sort 
that is highly esteemed is brought from the islands also, and 
the Sabeei even cross the sea to procure it in the country of 
the Troglodytae. It is grown also by being transplanted, and 
when thus cultivated is greatly preferred to that which is 
grown in the forests. The plant is greatly improved by raking 
11 The Mediterranean. 12 in 19 of the present Book. 
1^ It is supposed to be the product of an amyris, but is not now esteemed 
as a perfume ; hut is used in medicine as a tonic. Forskhal has attributed 
to the Amyris kataf, or kafal, the production of myrrh. According to 
Ehrenherg, a very similar tree, though constituting a different species, the 
Balsamodendrum myrrha, also produces this substance. >t is imported 
into Europe from both Abyssinia and Arabia. It was much used by the 
mcients, to flavour their wines. 
I 1* See B. vi. c. 32. 
I VOL. in. K. 
