Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow
Sabæan odours from the spicy shore
Of Araby the Blest: with such delay
Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league
Cheer’d with the grateful smell, old Ocean smiles.
Nor is this to be regarded as a mere poetical figure of speech. Sir Thomas Herbert,[[2571]] sailing up the Persian gulf on his return from the East Indies, found the atmosphere of the ocean perfumed by the spirits issuing from the flowers of Arabia, and observes, that mariners while yet out of sight of land have discovered where they were by the prevalence of these odoriferous gales. The same effect has been observed in other parts of the world. Pernetty[[2572]] relates, that, on approaching the island of St. Catharine on the Brazil coast, the fragrance of its aromatic herbs and flowers may be detected at more than three leagues. In dark nights, or hazy weather, the dogs on board a ship will smell the land at considerable distance, so as in such cases to serve instead of a telescope.
From a district of Arabia Felix, as well as from Petra in Idumæa, was obtained that gum in globules, called bdellion,[[2573]] alluded to in the second chapter of Genesis,—“and the gold of that land is good; there is bdellion and the onyx stone.” Arabia likewise exported preserved ginger,[[2574]] though not apparently till a comparatively late period. In the country itself they seasoned their drinks and potages with the green leaves, as the Greeks usually did with rue.[[2575]]
Among the other exports of Arabia was cassia[[2576]] of various qualities, together with cinnamon,[[2577]] respecting the gathering of which the following mythological narrative was delivered to strangers. The trees producing this sweet and fragrant bark grew, they said, in a certain valley, inhabited by innumerable serpents, to guard themselves against which, those who came to gather cinnamon had their feet and hands carefully covered with boots and gloves.
The spice being collected was divided into three parts, of which one belonged to the Sun. To prevent the god from being defrauded of his due share, lots were drawn, and the portion which thus fell to him was piled up in a heap upon the sand. The Arabs then departed, but, having reached a certain distance, usually turned back, when they were sure to behold the portion of the sun on fire, and sending up its flames and smoke towards the god to whom it appertained.[[2578]] It is clear from this, that the natives of the Arabian peninsula had already begun to collect materials for “The Thousand and One Nights.”
Another fragrant production of this country was the wood of aloes,[[2579]] which seems to have found its way, in great quantities, to the west, together with capers,[[2580]] costus,[[2581]] carpobalsamum,[[2582]] cardamums,[[2583]] aloes,[[2584]] gum-ladanum,[[2585]] myrobalans,[[2586]] terebinth-berries,[[2587]] and the odoriferous rush;[[2588]] the scink, of which we have already made frequent mention, was likewise obtained from Arabia.[[2589]] Broth made of the flesh of this animal is taken as an aphrodisiac by the Arabs, and its flesh dried and reduced to powder was still exported in the time of Hazelquist,[[2590]] through Alexandria to Venice and Marseilles.