[ 411 ] 
cond quality, and fells in Cairo about a third cheaper 
than the firft. The myrrh alfo produced from gafhes 
near the roots, and in the trunks of old trees, is of the 
fecond growth and quality, and Ibmetimes worfe. This, 
however, is the good myrrh of the Italian fhops every 
where but in Venice. It is of a blackifli red, foul colour, 
folid and heavy, loling little of its weight by being long 
kept; and it is not eafily diftinguifhed from that of Ara- 
bia Felix. The third and worh kind is gathered from 
old wounds or gaflies, formerly made, in old trees ; or 
myrrh that, palling unnoticed, has hung upon the tree 
ungathered a whole year; black and earth-like in colour, 
and heavy, with little fmell and bitternefs. This appa- 
rently is the caucalis of the ancients. 
PLINY fpeaks of Jla&e^ as if it was frelli or liquid myrrh ; 
and DioscoRiDES, in his chapter upon it (cap. 67.), fays 
fomething like this alfo. However, it is not credible, 
that the ancients, either Greeks or Latins, placed at fuch 
a dillance, could ever fee the myrrh in that ftate. The 
natives of its country fay, that it hardens on the tree in- 
ftantly, on being expofed to air ; and I, who was feveral 
months within four days journey of the place where it 
grew, and had the favages quite at my devotion to go and 
come from thence, could never fee the newed: myrrh 
fofter than the ftate it now is in ; though, I think, it dif- 
folved more perfectly in water, than when it had been 
kept. DIOSCORIDES too mentions a kind of myrrh 
which, he fays, was green, and of the confiftence of 
pafte. But as serapion and the Arabs fay, that flaBe 
was 
