Pliny: Natural History, Vol. IV

XXIV. Vicina iis Arabia flagitat quandam generum distinctionem, quoniam fructus constant radice, frutice, cortice, suco, lacrima, ligno, surculo, flore, folio, pomo.

XXV. Radix et folium Indis in maximo pretio. radix costi gustu fervens, odore eximia, frutice alias inutili. primo statim introitu amnis Indi in Patale insula duo eius genera, nigrum et quod melius candicans : pretium in libras 𐆖 vs.

XXVI. De folio nardi plura dici par est ut principali in unguentis. frutex est gravi et crassa radice sed brevi ac nigra fragilique, quamvis pingui, situm redolente, ut cypiros, aspero sapore, folio parvo densoque. cacumina in aristas se spargunt, ideo gemina dote nardi spicas ac folia celebrant. alterum eius genus apud Gangen nascens damnatur in totum ozaenitidos nomine, virus redolens. adulteratur et pseudonardo herba quae ubique nascitur crassiore atque latiore folio et colore languido in candidum vergente, item sua radice permixta ponderis causa et cummi spumaque argenti aut stibi ac cypiro cypirive cortice. sincerum quidem levitate deprehenditur et

Utility trees of Arabia.

XXIV. The country neighbouring on these islands, Arabia, calls for some detailed account of its products—inasmuch as the parts of trees that are utilized include the root, the trunk, the bark, the juice, the gum, the wood, the shoots, the blossom, the leaves and the fruit.

The costus of India.

XXV. In India a root and a leaf are held in the highest value. The root is that of the costus the plant Saussurea lappa, which has a burning taste and an exquisite scent, though in other respects the plant is of no use. In the island of Patale, just in the mouth of the river Indus, there are two kinds of costus plant, the black and the white; the latter is the better; it sells at 5 1/2 denarii a pound.

Nard.

XXVI. About the leaf, which is that of the nard spikenard, it is proper to speak at greater length, as it holds a foremost place among perfumes. The nard is a shrub, the root of which is heavy and thick but short and black, and although oily, brittle; it has a musty smell like the gladiolus, and an acrid taste; the leaves are small, and grow in clusters. The shoots of the nard sprout into ears, and consequently both the spikes and the leaves of the nard are famous—a twofold product. Another kind of nard growing by the Ganges is entirely ruled out by its name, 'ozaenitidos' putrid nard, having a poisonous smell. Nard is also adulterated with a plant called bastard nard, which grows everywhere, and has a thicker and broader leaf and a sickly colour inclining to white; and also by being mixed with its own root to increase the weight, and with gum and silver-spume or antimony and gladiolus or husk of gladiolus. Unadulterated nard can be detected by its light weight and its ruddy colour and sweet scent and particularly by