95 
bag. Owk, usually translated Unguis odoratus, and Blatta 
Bizantia, (the operculum of Strombus lentiginosus, but 
which is less fragrant than that of Pleurotoma Babylonia 
or PI. Trapezii), is described as being brought from the 
nard-producing lakes. This may every where be obtained 
in Northern India by the Arabic name azfar-al-teeb, though 
I was unable to ascertain whence it was brought. I 
am informed by Professor Wilson, that nakhi, literally 
nail, is enumerated amongst perfumes in the Amera Cosha, 
and that it is common in the bazars, and procurable by 
that name in Bengal. Pearls are well known to have 
been procured in ancient times, as now, from the Persian 
Gulf and the western coast of Ceylon. Corals, sponges, 
and cuttle-fish bone, may be found in the bazars of India, 
as articles of Materia Medica ; as well as lapis judaicus 
(Jiijr-al-yahoodee) the calcai'eous olive-shaped spine of a 
fossil Echinus. Among these we should expect to find 
some notice of the Lac insect, and its valuable dye and 
useful resin. It was certainly known to the Arabian 
authors by the name CJ$, Ink or luch. By the translators 
of Avicenna, it was considered identical with the Can- 
camutn of Dioscorides : but if so, it is remarkable that, 
acquainted as the Arabians were with Chermes (from kirm, a 
worm), no mention should be made of the remarkable 
colouring property of this substance, difficult though this 
may be of extraction. Dr. Bancroft states, it " was pro- 
bably unknown in Europe, until after the Portuguese 
had visited India, by sailing round the Cape of Good 
Hope.'" Phil, of Perm. Colours, v. ii. p. 1. 
If we adopt with minerals the same method as with 
vegetables and animals, that is, shew from their being the 
products of the country, that they were likely to have been 
known to its inhabitants, and to be identical with the 
substances described in their works, however ancient these 
