Naturalis historia 12.8.34

12.8.34

et ibi spina tradita est, cuius liquor adspersus oculis caecitatem inferret omnibus animalibus, nec non et herba praecipui odoris, referta minutis serpentibus, quarum ictu protinus moriendum esset. Onesicritus tradit in Hyrcaniae convallibus fico similes esse arbores quae vocentur occhi, ex quibus defluat mel horis matutinis duabus.

CHAP. 18.—TREES OF ABIANA, GEDROSIA, AND HYRCANIA. On the frontiers of India is a country called Ariana, which produces a thorny shrub, rendered precious by the tears which it distils. It bears some resemblance to myrrh, but is very difficult of access, by reason of the thorns with which it is armed. Here, too, a poisonous shrub is found, with a root like the radish, and leaves like those of the laurel, By its powerful odour it attracts horses, and was very nearly depriving Alexander of all his cavalry upon his first arrival there, an accident which also happened in Gedrosia. A thorny shrub has been also spoken of as a native of the same country, with leaves like those of the laurel, the juice of which, if sprinkled upon the eyes, is productive of blindness in all animals. Another plant is also mentioned, with a most remarkable odour, and full of diminutive serpents, the sting of which is sure to cause instant death. Onesicritus states, that in the vallies of Hyrcania, there is a tree resembling the fig, and known as the occhus, from which a honey distils for two hours every morning.