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3 3 6 CH R O N O LO G IC A L A R R A N G EM E N T
villages, and its “ golden flowers” in tlie “ dark long ha ir” of the maidens celebrated in Burmese
poetry; is known to grow wild in Ciampa (Drur.); was observed by Blanco on tiie Philippines, around
villages in the environs of Manila, and called in Tagalo “ sampac,” its flowers sold in the market.
By European colonists, was carried to the Mauritius Islands, where it continues under cultivation
(Boj.).
Andropogon Marlim of Tropical Hindustan. The roussa grass is called in Tamil “ kamakshi-
pullu ” or '• kasattam-pullu,” in Telinga “ kamakshi-kasuvu ” or “ kamanchi-gaddi,” in Bengalee
“ kliama-kher,” in Hindustanee and on the Deccan “ g an jn i” (D ru r .) ; in which we recognize the
grass We.st of the Indus recognized by Phoenicians in Alexander’s army as one of the perfumes of
commerce; also the "körnakön” enumerated by Theophrastus ix. 7. 2 among imported perfumes :
A. Martini is termed “ a. nardns ” by Linnæus; “ a. calamus-aromaticus ” by Royle (in Kitt. bibl.
cycl.), who further states that it grows from Nagpore as far North as Delhi, its “ leaves culms and
ro ots ” yielding the fragrant grass oil called “ oil of Namur,” much used in perfumery, also medicinally
by the natives, but in the shops is often confounded with “ oil of spikenard : ” the grass was
brought by Martin from the highlands of Balaghaut to Lucknow and Calcutta (Roxb. fl. i. 277), and
abounds 011 the Deccan, universally spread over the trap districts (Drur.).
Andropogon pachnodes of Tropical Hindustan. Said to yield also a volatile oil (Drur.) ; and
possibly the grass in question : — the “ nartê ” enumerated among perfumes by Theophrastus ix. 7. 3,
may be compared : A. pachnodes is described by Trinius. The ginger grass of Ainslie ii. 40t, yielding
an essential oil called by the natives “ koshel,” was observed by Law in the environs of Bombay
“ common between Dhowe and Krishna,” by Nimmo in the Concan North and South, by Heddle
in the “ vale of the Nerbudda,” and is lurther identified by Graham with the “ nardus indica” of
Lamarck enc. ii. 375.
Caryota urens of Tropical Hindustan and Ceylon. A stately palm called in the environs of
Bombay “ bherlee-mhar” (Graliam), in Telinga “ mari” (J. F. Wats., and Beddome 60) or “ jeeroo-
goo ” (Lindl.), in Tamil “ coonda-panna ” (Drur.); and the “ phöinikön ” in Gedrosia inducing “ kata-
nôêthënai ” if eaten crude — (Theophr. iv. 4. 13), “ strangulati ” as translated by Pliny xiii. 9, may
be compared: the “ marih” is mentioned by Rhazes, by Ebn Bailar as an Indian seed; and the
“ be llu ri” met with by Jordanus, yielding toddy of superior quality, is referred here by Yule : C.
urens was observed by Rheede i. pl. 11 in Malabar; by Graham, “ common on the Ghauts and Concans,”
also “ in gardens,” its pith yielding sago, and its sap or toddy in common use for yeast ; by
myself, clearly indigenous on the Ghaut ; by Buchanan, the trunk the favourite food of elephants ;
by Roxburgh, Ainslie, Royle, and Drury, in Travancore, Coromandel, and other parts of Hindustan,
fitty to sixty feet I'.igh, the thin rind of the fruit very acrid and producing a burning sensation on the
tongue ; is termed “ saguaster major ” by Rumphius i. pi. 14, and is known to grow on Ceylon, where
the split trunks are used as rafters, and the fibre of the ieaf-stalks made into ropes for tying wild
elephants (fl. zeyl. 369, and Drur.). Farther East, a species of Caryota yielding sago was observed
by Blanco on the Philippine.Sj common in many parts and called “ pugaham.” (See Arenga saccharifera).
A'enunt oleander of Subtropical Persia. The oleander is called in France “ laurier-rose ”
(Nugent), in Italy “ oleandro ” or “ alloro indiano ” (Lenz), in Greece “ pikrôthaphnë ” or “ rötliö-
thaphnë ” (Sibth.) or “ arothaphnë,” in Egypt “ tiflæ ” (Forsk.), in Egyptian “ skinphë ” (Syn. Diosc.) ;
and the “ thaphnë ’’-like plant tliat poisoned cattle of Alexander’s army in Gedrosia along the Persian
G u lf— (Strab. xv. 2. 7), may be compared: in tlie days of Dioscorides, the “ nerion ” having a roselike
flower and fruit in the form of horns, was a well known shrub in gardens, growing also by the
seaside and along streams ; and somewhat later, the “ wild laurel bearing roses ” is mentioned by
Apuleius asin., and Lucian : N. oleander was observed by Forskal, Sibthorp, Bory, and Fraas, frequent
along streams from tlie Peloponnesus to Constantinople ; is known to occur also seemingly
wild in Syria . . . ; and was observed by Forskal, and Delile, in the gardens of Egypt. Westward,
the “ nëriôn” or “ rôthôthaphnë ” or “ rôthôthënthrôn ” is identified in Syn. Diosc. with the “ ikmanc”
of the Lucanians (of Southern Italy), and “ laurörösa ” or “ ôlëanthrôum ” of the Romans; the
“ nerion” or “ rhododendron,” from having no Latin name, is regarded by Pliny xvi. 33 to xxiv. 53 as
brought from Greece ; and the “ rhododaphne ” is mentioned in the Virgilian Culex, and by Palladius
>■ 35- 9> and Vegetius : N. oleander is termed “ n. floribus rubescentibus ” by Tournefort in.st. 605 ;
was observed by Desfontaines i. 208 along streams on the Atlas mountains (Pers.) ; and is known to
occur seemingly wild from Italy to Portugal (A. Dec., ancl Lenz). By European colonists, was carried
to Northeast America, where it continues under cultivation as a hardy greenhouse plant. A
decoction of the leaves and bark according to Lindley is employed “ in the South of France to cure
the itch and to destroy cutaneous vermin,” and “ the powdered bark and wood to poison rats.”
A'erium pdorutn of Hindustan. An allied species called in Upper India “ hayamaraca” horse-
killer (W. Jones), in Broach “ nermudda,” in the environs of Bombay “ kunher ” (Graham), in Hindiistanee
“ karpiid,” in Bengalee “ kuriibee ” (Lindl.), and possibly the plant in question : — the
“ karavira ” is mentioned in the Mrichclihakati x., and by Susrutas ; and the “ hayamaraka ” by Susrutas
sutr. 36 to chikits. 18 : N. odorum was observed in Hindustan by Hermann lugdb. pl. 448, Rheede
ix. pl. 2, and Roxburgh ; by Graham, “ in gardens ” and “ wild by the banks of Deccan rivers ; ” by
myself, clearly indigenous along the river-bank of the Godaveri ; and according to Lindley, “ the
bark of the root and the sweet-smelling leaves are considered by the ” natives “ powerful repellants,
applied externally.” Farther East, the shrub is enumerated by Mason as “ exotic ” in Burmah ; and
is known to occur in gardens in China and Japan (Barrow trav. p. 505, and Blume).
At ArmozSia (Ormuz) opposite the projecting promontory of Arabia, a man was seen who wore
the Greek dress and spoke Greek, and who proved 10 be a straggler from Alexander’s army; then,
according to his account, only “ five days journey” distant. After an interview with Alexander,
Nearchus resumed his voyage ; and in the inner portion of the Gulf, in addition to canoes propelled
not by oars attached to tlie sides but paddled, met with ships of burden (Arrian 1. c. 27 and 38).
Continuing along the coast of Carmania, Persis proper, and Susiana, Nearchus and the fleet at lenglh
reached Thirithbtis or Teredon at the mouth of the Euphrates. By this voyage, a more accurate idea
of the configuration of a large portion of Asia was made known to the Greeks.
“ 324 B. C .” (Sm. b. d.), at Rome by decree of the senate, the dictator L. Papirius Cursor and
the “ magister equitum” L. Papirius Crassus continued in office without any consuls. The Samnites
defeated.
“ 323 B. C .” (Clint.), death of Alexander. In the ensuing partition, Ptolemy obtained the government
of Egypt, His earliest buildings there bear the hieroglyphic ovals of Philippus Aridaeus
and Ale.xander IV. ; nominal successors to the whole Empire.
The first mention of the lunate sigma C is ascribed to the poet Aeschrion, a pupil of Aristotle
and said to have accompanied Alexander on some of his expeditions — (Tzetz., Franz, and Sm.
b. d,). This form of sigma occurs in an inscription found on Sicily and periiaps anterior to “ B. C.
2S2 ; ” also in an inscription under Ptolemy III.
Campanula ramosissima of the East Mediterranean countries. A species of bell-flower called
in Greece “ agria goulia” (Sibth.) ; and the E P I N 0 N of Diodes of Carystus, growing about springs
and streams and at the base of mountains, — giving out according to Dioscorides five to seven
branches a span long, its leaves incised at the apex, flowers white, fruit or seed small black and
austere, the stem and leaves abounding in juice, is referred here by Fraas: C. ramosissima is described
by Sibthorp ; and was observed by him, Chaubard, and Fraas, from Zacynthus and the
Peloponnesus to the Bithynian Olympus. Westward, the “ grinds ” or “ dkimdSithSs ” or “ uthrerdn ”
is identified in Syn. Diosc, with the “ okimdum akduatikdum ” of the Romans; the account by Pliny
of the “ herba” calleil by the Greeks “ erineon ” seems chiefly taken from Dioscorides, but he adds
that its juice is milky and sweet.
Bupleuruni protractum of the East Mediterranean countries. A simple-leaved Umbelliferous
plant called in Greece “ skulldmarathrdn ” (Fraas); and the “ aliud hippomarathri g en u s ” having
according to Diodes long narrow leaves and coriander-like seed — (Plin. xx. 96), according to Dioscorides
small narrow oblong leaves and round coriander-like fruit fragrant and heating, the medicinal
properties asin the first kind but weaker, may be compared: B. protractum is described by Link,
and was observed by Fraas in vineyards and cultivated ground in Southern Greece.
“ 322 B, C .” (Pint., and Clint.), submission of Athens to Antipater; by whom, “ twelve thousand”
of the poorer citizens were disfranchised, and some of them carried into Thrace.
Montia fontana of extreme Northern and Austral Climates. A diminutive subaquatic, growing
around springs, and called in Britain blinks or blinking chickweed or -water chickweed or water b'inks
(Prior); in which we recognize the M YQ'I' herb of Dercylus, growing in the Achelous, and inducing
blindness if mixed in water for wasliing, sight to be recovered by appeasing Diana — (Plut. fluv. 22,
5); M. fontana was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in the Peloponnesus; by Grisebacli, in
Roumelia; by Savi, in Italy; by Moris, in Sardinia; by Boissonade, on the mountains of Southern
Spain ; by Brotero, in Po r tu g a l; and is known to grow from the environs of Paris and London to
Ireland and Lapland (Pers., Curt. fl. lond, iii. 2)1, 8, Fries, and Wats.). Farther West, was observed
by Hooker on Iceland; by Lapylaie, as far South as Lat. 52“ on Newfoundland; by Mertens, at
Norfolk Sound on the Pacific coast; by Chamisso, on Unalascha and throughout the Arctic portion
of Northwest America; is known to grow al.so in East Siberia (Ledeb.) ; and on Anti-sana and
Pichinca, peaks of tlie Equatorial Andes (Kunth). In the Southern Hemisphere, was observed by
C. Gay in C h ili; by J. D. Hooker, on the Falkland Islands, New Zealand, the Auckland Islands,
Canijibell Island, and Kerguelen Island (y\. Dec.).
In this year ( = 288 -fo “ 34 years reign ” in the Mahavamsa v.), through the brahmin Chanacca,
Danepala-Nandeya (Nanda) slain and succeeded by ¡rrince Chandragiuta or Sandracottus.
“ 321 B. C ,” (Clint, see Strab. xvii. i. 8), the body of Alexander brought into Egypt by Perdiccas,
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