European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 18 the stars and stripes tuesday. December 24. 1985 today s crossword the three King make their Way to Bethlehem with gift of Gold frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense merchants do a slow Burnby Joseph Gambardello United press International o be of the gifts brought by the magi who followed the Star of Bethlehem on in first Christmas was frankincense. Nobody would do that now. Frankincense is the sap of the Boswell a Sacra tree. It gives Oil a pungent scent when burned and in an Cicil times was considered Worth its weight in Gold a Gilt fit for Kings. Ii is said to be the gift the Queen of Sheba hollered to King Solomon. Centuries before the discovery of Oil. The people of the Southern arabian Peninsula in what is now Oman made their fortunes with it. To get the resin to its Markels in Egypt. Babylon and Rome Trade routes were established throughout the Middle East and the wealth it generated built cities such As sum Huram. Which was a key port for the ancient commodity. Frankincense was primarily burned in religious rituals and at special occasions. Ancient records say priests burned 2vi ions of frankincense each year at the babylonian Temple of Baal frankincense Pellows also were found in King tutankhamen s Tomb and the roman writer Pliny recorded that emperor Nero burned a year s production at the funeral of his Wile Poppa a. The burning of frankincense was incorporated in Christian rituals and the scent is still used today although churches now Rety on an artificial substitute developed in the late 1940s. The artificial product virtually killed off the Trade although some Hardy individuals kept collecting the resin for Domestic consumption and it is being exported again Lor use in perfumes. But frankincense is no longer a Gilt lit for Kings and it is not nearly As valuable As it once a is Al the souk in Muscat. 1.1 pounds of the resin could be bought for about $3. Ii it was still Worth is weight in Gold it would have Cost More than $5.700. Tha Best frankincense comes irom Short gnarled Trees on he desert old Luau near Talalah in Oman s Southern Tholar Region where members of the bail Kathr and Al Mara tribes still collect it in the traditional fashion. The collection season begins in Winter and runs through Tho Spring until the monsoons begin. To collect the resin workers use a Small Sharp knife called a Mingan to Cut the bark. The resin known As Luban. Oozes out and hardens into crystals which Are scraped off the tree into Palm baskets. A higher Quality of frankincense a wifi is lighter in color is obtained by waiting for the resin to dry naturally on the tree before telling to the ground. The Best Way to Burn frankincense is to place it on hot charcoal. At the souk in Muscat frankincense is sold by merchants alongside sacks of spices dried Flowers and charcoal. Bargaining is the name of the game and one never accepts the first Price quoted. Incense burners also can be found ranging in Price from about $2 for a simple Clay one to several Hundred dollars for ornate Silver models. By across 1 fail in Lill 5 Singer Claplin 9 a nil if to 12 minor con tinent1. Is treaty nor. 14 i Lifis Hill 15 Musy time for Santa 17 How 18 Ufa Vorsand Marvin l9-Lawr Moses 21 fire huh scrime 24 author Mellow 25 i median 1,1 w 20si arinf30 West a la -. 38 i nil of heal 40j Julcher 42 make Public 43 starlit City 48 append 49 smooth 50 farm building51 Jinil Jirise Paul 52 israeli port 53 Pierce Milf a Daia Jerown 1 Man Chleo 2 in raft re Simlue 3 Maronet s title 4 mnriiiit5 drafted her. I air native 7 fall Day 8 author Thomas 9 it Pitili in the Olsi men 10 Lively
