Chap. 63.] CINNAMON OR COMACUM. 155 
bryon of second-rate quality is produced from the cedar of 
Lycia.^^ (Enanthe, too, bears an affinity to these substances, 
being the clusters of the wild vine : it is gathered when it is 
in flower, or, in cfther words, when it has the finest smell : 
after which it is dried in the shade upon a linen sheet spread 
beneath it, and then stored away in casks. The best sort is 
that which comes from Parapotamia the next best kinds are 
those made at Antiochia and Laodicea in Syria ; and that of 
third-rate quality, comes from the mountainous parts of Media ; 
this last, however, is preferable for medicinal purposes. Some 
persons give the preference over all to that grown in the 
island of Cyprus. As to that which comes from Africa, it 
is solely used for medicinal purposes, being known by the 
name of massaris.^^ Whatever country it may happen to be, 
the white wild vine produces an oenanthe of superior quality 
to the black. 
CHAP. 62. ELATE OE SPATHE. 
There is another tree^^ also, that contributes to the manu- 
facture of unguents, by some persons known under the name 
of elate, but which we call abies ; others again call it a palm, 
and others give it the name of spathe. That of Hammonium. 
is the most esteemed, and that of Egypt next, after which 
comes the Syrian tree. It is only odoriferous, however, in 
places that are destitute of water. The tears of it are of an 
unctuous nature, and are employed as an ingredient in un- 
guents, to modify the harshness of the oil. 
CHAP. 63. — CINNAMON OE COMACUM. 
In Syria, too, is produced that kind of cinnamon which is also 
known as comacum.^^ This is a juice which is extracted from 
^2 The bud, probably, of the Juniperus Lycia. 
93 See B. vi. c. 31. 
®^ Said to have been a surname given by some nations to the god Bac- 
chus. 
It is generally supposed by the commentators, that Pliny makes a 
mistake here, and that the elate or spathe was not a tree, but the envelope 
or capsule, containing the flowers and fruit of a tree, which is supposed by 
some to have been really the Phoenix dactylifera, or date-palm. There 
can be little doubt that he is mistaken in his mention of the abies or fir- 
tree here. See B. xxiii. c. 53. 
Bauhin thinks that this juice or oil was extracted from the nutmeg. 
