Pliny: Natural History, Vol. IV

Trees of countries adjacent to India.

XVIII. On the frontier of India is a race called the Arian, which has a thorn-bush that is valuable for the juice that it distils, resembling myrrh. It is difficult to get at this bush because it is hedged with thorns. In the same district there is also a poisonous bush, with the leaf of a bay-tree, the smell of which attracts horses, and nearly robbed Alexander of his cavalry when he first entered the region. This also happened in Gedrosia as well, on account of the foliage of the bay-trees; and in the same district a thorn was reported the juice of which sprinkled on the eyes caused blindness in all animals. There was also a plant with a very strong scent, that was full of tiny snakes whose bite was instantly fatal. Onesicritus reports that in the valleys of Hyrcania there are trees resembling the fig, named occhi a type of honey-tree-trees, which for two hours every morning drip honey.

Trees of Bactriana. XIX. Adjoining India is the Bactrian country, in which is produced the highly esteemed bdellium a resinous gum. The tree is black in colour, and the size of the olive; its leaf resembles that of the oak and its fruit that of the wild fig. The substance of the fruit is like gum; one name for it is brochon a term for bdellium, another malacha a term for bdellium, and another maldacon a term for bdellium, while a black variety which is rolled up into cakes has the name of hadrobolon a variety of bdellium. It ought to be transparent like wax, to have a scent, to exude grease when crumbled, and to have a bitter taste, though without acidity. When used in religious ritual it is steeped in wine, which makes its scent more powerful. This tree is native to Arabia and India, and also to Media and Babylon. Some people give to the bdellium imported from Media the name of peraticum bdellium from Media; this kind is more brittle and also harder and more bitter than the others, whereas the Indian variety is moister and...