Note 285 — TALE OF HARUN AL-RASHID AND ABU HASAN, THE MERCHANT OF OMAN.

This “’Ar’ar” is probably the Callitris quadrivalvis whose resin (“Sandarac”) is imported as varnish from African Mogador to England. Also called the Thuja, it is of cypress shape, slow growing and finely veined in the lower part of the base. Most travellers are agreed that it is the Citrus-tree of Roman Mauritania, concerning which Pliny (xiii. 29) gives curious details, a single table costing from a million sesterces (£900) to 1,400,000. For other details see p. 95. “Morocco and the Moors,” by my late friend Dr. Leared (London: Sampson Low, 1876).