328 
plint's i^a tubal histoey. 
[Book XV. 
the mulberry for its cartilaginous consistency, and nuts for 
their kernels. Some fruits in Egypt are esteemed for their 
skin; the carica,^' for instance. This skin, which in the 
green fig is thrown away as so much refuse peeling, when the 
fig is dried is very highly esteemed. In the papyrus,^'^ 
the ferula, and the white thorn the stalk itself constitutes 
the fruit, and the shoots of the fig-tree are similarly 
employed. 
Among the shrubs, the fruit of the caper is eaten along' 
with the stalk ; and in the carob,^^ what is the part that is 
eaten but so much wood ? l^ov ought we to omit one pecu- 
liarity that exists in the seed of this fruit — it can be called 
neither fiesh, wood, nor cartilage, and yet no other name has 
been found for it. 
CHAP. 35. (29). THE JklYKTLE. 
The nature of the juices that are found in the myrtle are 
particularly remarkable, for it is the only one^^of all the trees, the 
berries of which produce two kinds of oil as well as of wine, 
besides myrtidanum,^^ of which we have already spoken. The 
berry of this was also put to another use in ancient times, for 
before pepper^^ was known it was employed in place of it as a 
seasoning ; so much so, indeed, that a name has been derived 
from it for the highly-seasoned dish which to this day is known 
by the name of myrtatum."^^ It is by the aid of these ber- 
ries, too, that the flavour of the flesh of the wild boar is 
improved, and they generally form one of the ingredients in 
the flavouring of our sauces. 
CHAP. 36. HISrOElCAL AISTECDOTES EELATIVE TO THE IVIYETLE. 
This tree was seen for the first time in the regions of 
21 Or " Carian " fig. See c. 19 of this Book. 
22 See B. xiii. c. 11. 
23 See B. xiii. c. 42, and B. xx. cc. 9 and 23. 
2* See B. xiii. c. 26, and B. xxiv. c. 66. 
25 See B. xiii. c. 22. Fee remarks that it is singular how the ancients 
could eat the branches of the fig-tree, the juice being actually a poison. 
26 See B. xiii. c. 44. 27 gee c. 26 of this Book. 
28 He is wrong : the same is the case with the berries of the laurel, and, 
indeed, many other kinds of berries. 
29 See c. 7 of this Book. 30 gee B. xiv. c. 9. 
31 See B. xii. c. 14. 
32 A kind of sausage, seasoned with myrtle. See also B. xxvii c 49. 
