CHAP. 36. (17.)—MASTICH.
The transition, therefore, [Note] is very easy to mastich, which
grows upon another prickly shrub of India and Arabia, known
by the name of laina. Of mastich as well there are two different kinds; for in Asia and Greece there is also found a herb
which puts forth leaves from the root, and bears a thistly
head, resembling an apple, and full of seeds. Upon an incision being made in the upper part of this plant drops distil
from it, which can hardly be distinguished from the genuine
mastich. There is, again, a third sort, [Note] found in Pontus, but
more like bitumen than anything else. The most esteemed,
however, of all these, is the white mastich of Chios, the price
of which is twenty denarii per pound, while the black mastich
sells at twelve. It is said that the mastich of Chios exudes
from the lentisk in the form of a sort of gum: like frankincense, it is adulterated with resin.
