24-8 MASTIC. 
pith of the young trees is eaten, as well as the young 
and tender leaves. From the old leaves and their 
stalks the women and children of Valencia make mats, 
baskets, and other utensils; and from other filamen- 
tous parts, ropes and different kinds of cordage are 
manufactured. A considerable traffic is carried on in 
these leaves, which, under the name of palms, are sent 
to Italy, to be used in the grand religious ceremonies 
of Palm Sunday. In Persia an ardent spirit is distilled 
from the fruit ; and, in many places, the stones are 
ground to make oil, and the paste that is left is given 
as food to cattle and sheep. 
PENTANDRIA. 
258. MASTIC is a resinous substance, obtained from a 
low tree or shrub (Pistacia lentiscus) which grows in the Le- 
vant. 
It has alternate winged leaves, consisting of several pairs 
of spear-shaped leaflets, and spikes of very small flozcers, which 
issue from the junction of the leaves with the branches. 
The mode in which this resin is obtained is by mak- 
ing incisions across the tree in different parts. From 
these the juice exudes in drops, k that are suffered to 
run upon the ground, and there to remain until they 
are sufficiently hard to be collected for use. The 
season for this process commences in the dry weather 
at the beginning of August, and lasts until the end of 
September. The best mastic is that imported from 
the island of Scio. We receive it in semi-transparent 
grains of yellowish colour. These emit an agreeable 
smell when heated ; and, when chewed, they first 
crumble, and afterwards stick together, and become 
soft and white like wax. 
With the Turkish women it is customary to chew this 
resin for the purpose of rendering their breath agreeable, 
and under a notion also that it tends to make their teeth 
white, and to strengthen the gums. They also mix it in 
fragrant waters, and burn it with other odoriferous sub- 
