CHAP. 48.—THE SWEET-SCENTED CALAMUS; [Note] THE SWEET-SCENTED
RUSH.
Scented calamus also, which grows in Arabia, is common to
both India and Syria, that which grows in the last country
being superior to all the rest. At a distance of one hundred
and fifty stadia from the Mediterranean, between Mount
Libanus and another mountain of no note (and not, as some
have supposed, Antilibanus), there is a valley of moderate
size, situate in the vicinity of a lake, the marshy swamps of
which are dried up every summer. At a distance of thirty
stadia from this lake grow the sweet-scented calamus and
rush. We shall here make some further mention of this rush
as well, although we have set apart another Book for plants
of that description, seeing that it is our object here to describe all the different materials used for unguents. These
plants differ in appearance in no respect from others of their
kind; but the calamus, which has the more agreeable smell of
the two, attracts by its odour at a considerable distance, and
is softer to the touch than the other. The best is the kind
which is not so brittle, but breaks into long flakes, and not
short, like a radish. In the hollow stalk there is a substance
like a cobweb, which is generally known by the name of the
"flower:" those plants which contain the most of it are
esteemed the best. The other tests of its goodness are its
being of a black colour—those which are white not being
esteemed; besides which, to be of the very best quality it
should be short, thick, and pliant when broken. The price of
the scented calamus is eleven, and of the rush fifteen denarii
per pound. It is said that the sweet-scented rush is to be met
with also in Campania.
