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Dill has also the reputation of counteracting the enchantments
of Witches and sorcerers—
“ The Verdain and the Dill
That hindreth Witches of their will.”
St. John’s Wort {Hypericum), the Fuga Dccmonum of the old
writers, is a plant detested by Witches, who are scared when in its
neighbourhood.
“ St. John’s Wort, scaring from the midnight heath
The Witch and Goblin with its spicy breath.”
Herb Paris, according to Matthiolus, takes away all evil done
by witchcraft; Pimpernel is potent to prevent i t ; and Angelica
worn round the neck will defeat the malignant designs of Witches,
who moreover, it is satisfactory to know, detest the Bracken Fern,
because if its stem be cut, there will be found therein the monogram
of Christ. Flowers of a yellow or greenish hue, growing in
hedgerows, are also repugant to them.
In the Tyrol there exists a belief that by binding Rue, Broom,
Maidenhair, Agrimony, and ground Ivy, into one bundle, the bearer
of the same is enabled to see and know Witches.
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C H A P T E R X.
^ a g l c a P p P a a t / .
N remote ages, the poisonous or medicinal properties
of plants were secrets learnt by the most
intelligent and observant members of pastoral
and nomadic tribes and clans ; and the possessor
of these secrets became often both medicine-man
and priest, reserving to himself as much as possible
the knowledge he had acquired of herbs and
their uses, and particularly of those that would
produce stupor, delirium, and madness; for by these means he
could produce in himself and others many startling and weird
manifestations, which the ignorance of his fellows would cause
them to attribute to Divine or supernatural causes. The Zuckungen,
or convulsions, ecstacies, temporary madness, and ravings, that
formerly played so important a part in the oracular and sacerdotal
ceremonies, and which survive even at the present day, had their
origin in the tricks played by the ancient medicine-man in order
to retain his influence over his superstitious brethren. The
exciting and soporific properties of certain herbs and plants, and
the peculiar phenomena which, in skilful hands, they could be
made to produce in the victim, were well known to the ancient
seers and priests, and so were easily foretold ; while the symptoms
and effects could be varied accordingly as the plants were dried,
powdered, dissolved in water, eaten freshly gathered, or burnt as
incense on the altars. The subtle powers of opiates obtained from
certain plants were among the secrets carefully preserved by the
magi and priests.
According to Prosper Alpinus, dreams of paradise and celestial
visions were produced among the Egyptians by the use of Opium ;
and Kaempfer relates that after having partaken of an opiate in
Persia, he fell into an ecstatic state, in which he conceived himself
to be flying in the air beyond the clouds, and associating with
celestial beings.
From the juice of the Hemp, the Egyptians have for ages prepared
an intoxicating extract, called Hashish, which is made up into