127 
ship of the desert," enabling the Arabs to form caravans 
across their deserts; the country, examined by modern 
naturalists, as Niebuhr and Forskal, yields few products 
to justify the ancient commendations. Balsamodendron 
gi/eadense, the Balsam of Gilead-tree, like the Date Palm, 
was indigenous. Coffee was probably unknown, and Senna, 
as far as we know, unnoticed. Olibanum (looban, near 
Hadramaut. Niebuhr), Myrrh, and Aloes, may- have been 
produced within its limits; but the largest quantities of both 
are now imported, chiefly into Aden, from the opposite coast 
of Africa. The Saumalees bringing down to the coast, from 
Cape Gardafui to near Bab-al-Mandel, Gum, Olibanum, 
and Myrrh, with other drugs, as well as Gold and Ivory, 
like the Macrobians of old. (Heeren.) Among the culti- 
vated and wild, useful and ornamental plants, in the lists 
furnished by Forskal, we see no others which could have 
called forth encomiums, or become articles of commerce. 
Among them, we even find some American plants, as To- 
bacco, the Papaya, Anona, and others. Many of the fruits 
belonging to the family of Rosacece were probably intro- 
duced from Persia ; and others, no doubt, from India, as the 
Tamarind (tumr-hindee, Indian date), Orange and Lemon, 
Mangoe (erroneously translated Mangostien in many works), 
the Plantain, Cocoa-Betel-nut and Fan Palms. Among the 
Odores, we have even Rue and Wormwood; with them also the 
Eeura, which is, indeed, noted as affording one of the most 
frao-rant essences. But this is the Pandanus odoratissimus, a 
truly Indian plant, often alluded to by Hindoo poets,* and 
havino- Indian names (Sans. Ketukee, Hind. Ketgi and 
Keura), the evident originals of that by which alone it is 
• Through the air, 
The slowly rising hreezes spread around 
The grateful fragrance of the Ketahi. 
Wilson, Hindoo Theatre, II. p. 8>. 
