79. Pepper was a favourite ingredient of the most expensive
Roman cookery, and the best sort commonly sold for fifteen
'denarii', or ten shillings, the pound. See Pliny, Hist.
Natur. xii. 14. It was brought from India; and the same
country, the coast of Malabar, still affords the greatest
plenty; but the improvement of trade and navigation has
multiplied the quantity and reduced the price. See Histoire
Politique et Philosophique, etc., tom. i. p. 457.