Myrrh

mer, an aromatic resin much prized by the ancients. The myrrh tree is a thorny shrub from ten to twelve feet in height, with a light gray bark, having the general appearance of the hawthorn. It grows in dwarfish thickets on the sunny slopes of the Levant, especially in Arabia, although it is found eastward as far as Bombay. Myrrh is obtained also from Somaliland on the coast of eastern Africa. The natives bruise the bark of the tree with a stone to encourage the formation of the gum. Like spruce and other gums, it exudes from cracks in the bark and hardens in the form of tears. When dried it has a reddish brown color. Myrrh was formerly much used in the making of ointments and perfumes. It was one of the precious gifts presented by the three wise men to the infant Christ in the manger. It was in great demand among the Egyptians for the embalming of bodies. Joseph, it may be remembered, was sold to a caravan of merchants on their way to Egypt with myrrh and other precious merchandise. The Turks and Italians are the chief modern purchasers of myrrh. The inferior grades are sold in India and China. See Gum; Perfume