The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. XIV. [unspec G]

¶ Of Happy Arabia, that yeeldeth plenty of Frankincense.

THere is no region in the whole world that bringeth forth frankincense but Arabia: and yet is it not to be found in al parts therof, but in that quarter only of the Atramites. Now these Atramites inhabit the very heart of Arabia, and are a county of the Sabaei. The ca∣pitall city of the whole kingdom is called Sabota, seated vpon a high mountain: from whence vnto Saba, the only country that yeelds such plenty of the said incense, it is about 8 daies jour∣ney. As for Saba (which in the Greek tongue signifieth, a secret mysterie) it regards the Sunne rising in Summer, or the North-East, enclosed on euery side with rockes inaccessible: and on the right hand it is defended with high cliffes and crags that beare into the sea. The soile of this territorie, by report, is reddish, & inclining to white. The forrests that carry these Incense [unspec H] treesly in length 20 Schaenes, and beare in bredth half as much. Now that which we cal Schae∣nus, according to the calculation of Eratosthenes, contains forty stadia, that is to say, fiue miles: how soeuer some haue allowed but 32 stadia to euery Schaenus. The quarter wherein these trees grow is full of high hills: howbeit, go down into the plains and valley beneath, you shall haue plenty of the same trees, which come vp of their own accord, and were neuer planted. The earth is fat, and standeth much vpon a strong clay, as all writers do agree. Few Springs are there to be found, and those that be are full of Nitre. There is another tract by it selfe confronting this country, wherein the Minaeans do inhabit: and through them there is a narrow passage, where∣by the frankincense is transported into other parts. These were their first neighbours that did [unspec I] traffique with them for their Incense, and found a vent for it: and euen so they doe still at this day, whereupon the frankincense it selfe is called of their name, Minaeum. Setting these peo∣ple of the Sabeans aside, there be no Arabians that see an Incense tree from one end of the yere to another: neither are all these permitted to haue a sight of those trees. For the common voice is, that there be not aboue 3000 families which can claime and challenge by right of successi∣on that priuiledge to gather incense. And therefore all the race of them is called Sacred and Holy: for looke when they go about either cutting and slitting the trees, or gathering the In∣cense, they must not that day come neere a woman to know her carnally; nay they must not be at any funerals, nor approch a dead corps, for being polluted. By which religion and ceremoni∣ous obseruation the price is raised, and the incense is the dearer. Some say, these people haue [unspec K] equall liberty in common to go into these Woods for their commodities when they will: but others affirme that they be diuided into companies, and take their turns by yeares. As concer∣ning the very tree I could neuer know yet the perfect description of it. We haue waged warres in Arabia, and our Roman armie haue entred a great way into that country. C. Caesar the adop∣ted son of Augustus wan great honour and glory from thence: and yet verily, to my knowledge, there was neuer any Latine Author, that hath put down in writing the form and fashion of the tree that carrieth incense. As for the Greeke Writers, their bookes doe vary and differ in that point. Some giue out, that it hath leaues like to a Peare tree, only they be somewhat lesse, and when they come forth they be of a grasse green colour. Others say that they resemble the Len∣tiske tree, and are somwhat reddish. There be again who write, that it is the very Terebints and [unspec L] none else, that giueth the Frankincense: of which opinion king Antigonus was, who had one of these shrubs brought vnto him. King Iuba in those books which he wrot and sent to C. Caesar, son to the Emperor Augustus, (who was inflamed with an ardent desire to make a voiage into Ara∣bia, for the great fame that went thereof) saith, That the tree which beares Frankincense hath a trunke or body writhen about, and putteth forth boughes and branches like for all the world to the Maple of Pontus. Item, that it yeeldeth a iuice or liquour as doth the Almond tree; and such are seene commonly in Carmania: as also those in Egypt which were planted by the care∣full industrie of the Ptolomees, Kings there. Howeuer it be, this is receiued for certaine, that it hath the very barke of a Bay tree: Some also haue said that the leaues be as like. And verily such kind of trees were they which were seen at Sardis: for the Kings of Asia likewise were at [unspec M] the cost and labor to transplant them, and desirous to haue them grow in Lydia. The Embassa∣dours who in my time came out of Arabia to Rome, haue made all that was deliuered as tou∣ching these trees, more doubtfull and vncertaine than before. A strange matter, and wonder∣full indeed, considering that twigges and branches of the Incense tree haue passed betweene:

by the veiw of which impes, we may judge what the Mother is: namely, euen and round in the [unspec A] bodie, without knot or knar, and from thence she putteth out shoots.

They vsed in old time to gather the Incense but once a yere; as hauing little vent, and small returne, and lesse occasion to sell than now adaies: but now, since euery man calleth for it, they feeling the sweetnesse of the gaine, make a double vintage (as it were) of it in one yere. The first, and indeed the kindly season, falls about the hottest daies of the Summer, at what time as the Dog daies begin: for then they cut the Tree where they see the bark to be fullest of liquor, and wheras they perceiue it to be thinnest and strut out most. They make a gash or slit only to giue more libertie: but nothing do they pare or cut cleane away. The wound or incision is no sooner made, but out there gusheth a fat some or froth: this soone congeales and growes to be hard: [unspec B] and where the place will giue them leaue, they receiue it in a quilt or mat made of Date tree twigs, plaited and wound one within another wicker-wise. For elsewhere, the floore all about is paued smooth, and rammed downe hard. The former way is the better to gather the purer and clearer Frankincense: but that which falleth vpon the bare ground, prooues the weightier. That which remaines behind, and stickes to the Tree, is parted and scraped off with kniues, or such like yron tooles; and therefore no maruell if it be ful of shauings of the bark. The whole wood or forrest is diuided into certaine portions: and euery man knowes his owne part: nay, there is not one of them will offer wrong vnto another, and encroch vpon his neighbors. They need not to set any keepers to look vnto those Trees that be cut, for no man will rob from his fellow if he might; so just and true they be in Arabia. But beleeue me, at Alexandria where Frankincense [unspec C] is tried, refined, and made for sale, men canot look surely ynough to their shops and work-hou∣ses, but they will be robbed. The workeman that is emploied about it, is all naked, saue that he hath a paire of trouses or breeches to couer his shame, and those are sowed vp and sealed too, for feare of thrusting any into them. Hood-winked he is sure ynough for seeing the way to and fro, and hath a thicke coife or maske about his head, for doubt that he should bestow any in mouth or eares. And when these workmen be let forth againe, they be stripped starke naked, as euer they were borne, and sent away. Whereby we may see, that the rigor of justice canot strike so great feare into our theeues here, and make vs so secure to keepe our owne, as among the Sabaeans, the bare reuerence and religion of those woods. But to returne againe to our former [unspec D] cuts. That Incense which was let out in Summer, they leaue there vnder the Tree vntil the Au∣tumne, and then they come and gather it. And this is most pure, cleane, and white.

A second Vintage and gathering there is in the Spring: against which time, they cut the bark before in the Winter, and suffer it to run out vntil the Spring. This comes forth red, and is no∣thing comparable to the former. The better is called Carpheotum, the worse, Dathiathum. Moreouer, some say, that the gum which issueth out of the young trees is the whiter: but that which comes from the old, is more odoriferous. There be others also of opinion, that the better Incense is in the Islands. But King Iuba doth auouch constantly, that there is none at all in the Islands. That which is round like vnto a drop, and so hangeth, we call the male Incense; wheras in other things lightly we name the male, but where there is a female. But folk haue a religious [unspec E] ceremonie in it, not to vse so much as the tearme of the other sexe, in giuing denomination to Frankincense. Howbeit, some say, that it was called the Male, for a resemblance that it hath to cullions or stones. In very truth, that is held for the cheife and best simply, which is fashioned like to the nipples or tears that giue milk, standing thick one by another: to wit, when the for∣mer drop that distilled, hath another presently followeth after, and so consequently more vnto them, and they all seeme to hang together like bigs. I read, that euery one of these were wont to make a good handfull, namely, when men were not so hasty & eager to carry it away, but would giue it time and leisure to drop softly. When it is gathered in this sort, the Greeks vse to call it [unspec F] Stagonias and Atomus: but the lesser goblets they name Orobias. As for the small crums or fragments which fall off by shaking, wee called Manna, [i. Thuris.] And yet there be found at this day drops of Incense that weigh the third part of a pound, that is to say, about * 39 Roman * 1.1 deniers. It happened on a time, that king Alexander the Great being then but a very little child, made no spare of Incense, but cast still vpon the altar without all measure when he offered sa∣crifice. Whereupon, Leonides his tutor and schoole-maister, by way of a light reproofe, said vn∣to him thus, Sir you should in that maner burne Incense when you haue once conquered those nations where there growes Incense. Which rebuke and checke of his tooke so deep a print in

Alexanders heart, and so well he carried it in memorie, that after he had indeed made conquest [unspec G] of Arabia, he sent vnto the said Leonides his Tutor, a ship ful fraught and charged with Incense; willing him not to spare, but liberally to bestow vpon the gods when hee sacrificed. To returne againe to our historie. When the Incense is gathered (as is beforesaid) conueighed it is to Sa∣bota, vpon Cammels backs, and at one gate (set open for that purpose) is it brought into the ci∣tie. For by law forbidden it is on pain of death, to take any other way. Which done, the Priests there of the god whom they call Sabis, take the disme or tenth part of the Incense, by measure, and not by weight, and set it apart for that god. Neither is it lawful for any man to buy or sell, before that duty be paied: which serues afterwards to support certaine publick expenses of the citie. For al strangers and trauellers within the compasse of certain daies journey, if they come to the citie, are courteously receiued, and liberally entertained at the cost and charge of the said [unspec H] god Sabis. Caried forth of the country it cannot be, but thorough the Gebanites: and therfore there is a custome paid to their king. The head citie of that kingdome, Thomna, is from Gaza (the next port-towne in Iudaea toward our coast) seuen and twentie miles fourscore times told: and this way is diuided into 62 daies journy by Camels. Moreouer, besides the tyth aforesaid, there be measures bestowed vpon the Priests to their owne vse: and others likewise to the kings Secretaries and Scribes. And not only these haue a share, but also the Keepers, Sextons, and Wardens of the temple, the Squires of the bodie, the Guard and Pensioners, the kings officers, the Porters, Groomes, and other seruitors pill and poll, and euery one hath a snatch. Moreouer, all the way as they trauell; in one place they pay for their water, in another for fodder and pro∣uender, or else fortheir lodging & stable-room, & euery where for one thing or other they pay [unspec I] toll: so as the charge of euery Cammell from thence to the sea vpon our coast, commeth to 688 deniers: and yet we are not come to an end of paiments. For our Publicanes and customers also belonging to our Empire, must haue a fleece for their parts. And therefore a pound of the best Incense will cost 16 deniers: of the second 15: and the third 14. With vs it is mingled and so∣phisticated with parcels of a white kind of Rosin which is very like to it: but the fraud is soone found, by the meanes aboue specified. The best Incense is tried and knowne by these markes, viz. If it be white, large, brittle, and easie to take a flame when it comes neare a coale of fire; last of all, if it still not abide the dent of the tooth, but flie in pieces and crumble sooner than suffer the teeth to enter into it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  or rather 3•…•… and a seruple.