Ointment and perfume— At the close of a visit in the eastern countries, it is common to sprinkle rose-water, or some other sweet-scented water, on the guests, and to perfume them with aloes wood; which is brought last, and serves as a sign that it is time for a stranger to take his leave. Great numbers of authors take notice of this part of eastern complaisance, but some are much more particular and distinct than others. Maundrell, for instance, who gives a most entertaining account of the ceremony of burning odours under the chin, does not mention any thing of the sprinkling sweet-scented waters; however, many other writers do; and Dr. Pococke has given us the figure of the vessel they make use of upon this occasion in his first volume, plate 57. R. They are both then used in the east; but if one be spoken of more than the other, it is, I think, the perfuming persons with odoriferous smoke. The Scriptures, in like manner, speak of perfumes as used anciently for evil purposes, as well as sacred, though they do not mention particulars. Perhaps the word here rendered perfume, comprehends in its meaning the waters distilled from roses, and other odoriferous flowers, whose scents in the east, at least in Egypt, if Maillet may be admitted to be a judge, are much higher and more exquisitely grateful than with us: but if those distillations should be thought not to have been known so early, the burning of fragrant things, and making a sweet smoke with them, we are sure they were acquainted with. See Exodus 30.
35. 38. Daniel 2:46 and the Observations, p. 270. The LXX read, By ointment and wine and incense the heart is made glad, but the soul, or spirit, is broken by misfortunes.