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lium was observed by Forskal p. 5 among the mountains of Yemen ; by Graham, on “ hills throughout
the Concans” to and beyond Bombay, its flowers “ greenish or azure-coloured;” by Rheede ii. pl.
20, in Malabar; by Roxburgh, and Wallich rar. iii. pl. io8, in other parts of Hindustan, and according
to Lindley “ said to be diuretic.”
Saccharum munja of Tropical Hindustan. A reed called in Hindustanee “ munja ” (Drur.) ; in
which we recognize the “ moundja ” used for removing impurities from drink according to the Rig
Veda ii. 3.4; “ munja” cincture of Brahmans, mentioned in the Institutes of Manu ii. 42,— and by
Kalidasa kum. v. 10 ; and “ munja ” grass of the Sutta Samanna Phala (Burn. ii. 477), Susrutas chik.
(7 to 19, and the Vishnu purana iv. 6: S. munja was observed by Roxburgh, and Royle, growing
abundantly along the banks of the Ganges at Benares, its leaves twisted into strong tow-ropes by
boatmen, and used besides for rigging on the Indus (Drur.).
The “ r is y a ” or white-footed antelope (A. nilgau), and the “ g a v a y a ” (gayal ox), mentioned in
the Yajur Veda (Colebr. as. res. p. 500).
In the Sama Veda adhy. 12 and 22 Jamadagni, and Vrihaspati, are mentioned, also Kasyapa
(prapath. i. 9), and the descendants of Angiras (adhy. i. 4).
The rishis or poets, whose stanzas are quoted in the prapathaka, are Puruhanman, Ahi, Virupa
Vasu, Yata, Atri, Jeta, Kasyapa, Medha, Sumedha, Nrimedha, Trimeclhas, Jamadagni, Prayaga,
Mada, Gaupayana, Satya, Satyadhriti, Gopavana, Kanwa, Praskanwa, Trayukil, Upastuta, Vriha:
dukta, Vemada, Trisiras, Budhagarishti, Ullovatayana, Yutadakshna, Sakti, Ibhi, Devaja, Garbha,
Puruchchhesa, Nodha, Twishta, Sasoka, Godha, Sahago, Gauriviti, Vena, Devajamya, Saya, Garga,
Dwaita, Vasuyava, Puru, Gritsamada, Payu, Dirghatama, Trita, Trimati, Rigiswana, Haryata, Gauri,
Tarkshya, Rinu, Vrismatilhi, Saunaka, Niranyaslhupa, Sumitra, Nandhasa, Kaleya, Ritu, Suhotra,
and K u la ;
Also Usana or Ushana, represented as reciting in adhyaya i. 10 to viii. i, Bharadwaja, Medhatithi,
Vatsa, Vamadeva, Madhuchhanda, Vasishtha, Saubhari, Viswamitra, Vatsapriya, Gautama, Gotama,
Srutakaksha, Trisoka, Irimi, Sukaksha, Irisni, Soka, Kusidina, Priyamedhas, Pragatha, Sanyu, Puru-
midha, Rebhas, Kali, Miri, Devatithi, Aswina, Taurasravasa, Kutsa, Dyutana, Tiraschi, Viswamanas,
Narada, Parvata, Sunahsepha, Bharga, Trinpani, and Manu.
Sarcostemma viuiiuale of Tropical Arabia and Hindustan. A leafless ascending many-branched
Asclepiaceous piant called in Yemen “ milmb ” (Forsk.), in Telinga “ tiga tshomoodoo,” in Bengalee
“ bramee ” or “ shomluta ” (Drur.) ; and the “ soma,” leafless according to the prapath. vi. 7. 12, its
prepared juice first obtained by Ushana celebrated throughout the Sama Veda, — mentioned al.so in
the Puranas, is referred here by writers : S. viminale was observed by Lush on the “ isle of Perirn,”
by Graham, and myself, “ throughout the Deccan,” and, according to Gibson, water impregnated with
the stems and common salt is employed by the natives to destroy white ants in sugar-cane fields ; by
Ro.xburgh, and Wight, as far as Coromandel, its milky juice so mild that travellers suck the tender
shoots to allay thirst (Drury). Westward, was observed by Forskal p. 50 near mount Melhan in Yemen,
eaten by cattle ; by Alpinus pl. 190, in Egypt. By European colomsts was carried to Brazil, observed
by myself naturalized at the base of the Organ mountains.
of Tropical Hindustan and Burmah. Called in Sanscrit “ pulasa,” in Bengalee
“ pulas,” in Telinga “ maduga” (Lindl.), in Plindustanee “ palas,” in Tamil “ porasum” (Drur?). in
Burmah “ pouk ” (Mason) ; in which we recognize the “ palasa ” named with honour in. tthhee Vedas, -
“ sa ivala ” (W. Jones) or “ s iv a la ” (Pidd.) ; and the “ sipala” of the Rig Veda viii. 27, driven by the
wind from the surface of the water, — is referred here by Langlois : the “ shivula” is mentioned by
Vaimiki ii. 3 ; the “ saivala” by Bhavabhuti mal. 6, and is prescribed medicinally by Susrutas sutr.
45 to chik. 18: V. octandra vvas observed by Nimmo, and Graham, on “ margins of tanks throughout
the Concan ; ” by W. Jones as. res. 275, and Roxburgli cor. ii. pl. 165, as far as Bengal..
Vallisneria aliernifolia oi Hindustan. Included apparently in the “ sipala” — and “ sh ivula”
above-mentioned : observed by Nimmo, and Graham, “ in tanks throughout the Concans,” and “ used
for refining sugar ; ” by Roxburgh, and Wight, in other parts of Hindustan.
Vallisneria spiralis oi both continents. Included apparently in the “ sipala” — and “ shivula”
above-mentioned : observed by Nimmo “ in tanks ” in the environs of Bombay (Graham) ; by Roxburgh,
Gardner, and Wight, in other parts of Hindustan ; and known to grow as far as Australia
(Graham). Westward, was observed by Ledebour iv. 46 in the Volga ; by Micheli gen. pi. 10, in
I ta ly ; by La Peyrouse pyr. 594, in the Aude and Garonne, and is known to grow in the Rlione and
otlier waters of Southern France (Pers., and A. Dec.). Farther West, was observed by Pursh in
the Oswego r iv e r ;, by myself, from Lat. 40° along the Atlantic ; is known to grow as far as the St.
John’s river in Florida and the Mississippi (Willd., and I’ ers.) ; was observed by Short in Kentucky;
and by Nuttall, from Lake Michigan to Arkansas.
and Institutes of Manu (W. Jones), and whose brilliant red flowers are celebrated by Kalidasa kum.
iii. 29: Agni’s “ sacred wood illuminating ” is mentioned in the Sama Veda v. 4, and the “ sacred
fire ” of the Brahmans was found by Stevenson fed exclusively with the wood of B. frondosa ; the
same “ venerable and holy tree gave its name to the celebrated plain of Plassey in Bengal ” (asiat.
res. iii. 469 to iv. 229) ; B. frondosa was observed by Rheede vi. pl. 16 and 17 in Malabar ; by Graham,
“ common both in the Concans, Kandesh, and Goozerat,” its flowers “ used to dye with,”
applied also “ to indolent tumours,” and furnishing a powder that “ enters into the composition of
g o o la l; ” by Roxburgh cor. i. pl. 2t, and Wight, on the Circars and in other parts of Hindustan ;
yields according to Royle antiq. med. 41 and fibr. ind. the “ p u las ” or “ dhak” fibre of commerce,
and its ashes containing carbonate o f potash are often commended by Hindu and Arab medical
writers : its ruby-coloured exudation, also employed medicinally by the natives (Drur.), was recognized
by Guibourt as the “ original kino which had entirely disappeared from commerce and was
once so much valued ; ” is now distinguished as pulos kino, and according to Drury “ is an efficient
substitute for the real kino.” Farther East, B. frondosa was observed by Mason v. 485 abounding
in the forests of Burmah ; and by M’Clelland, in Pegu.
The Institutes of Manu hardly earlier than this date, mention being made of Budhist nuns
(Weber, and Buns. iv. 7. 3), and of “ Tchinas ” China (a name unknown before the Thsin dynasty
according to Klaproth). Manu speaks of the “ three Vedas,” but elsewhere names the A t’harvanaor
fourth (Colebr. as. res. viii), and is himself mentioned in the Sama Veda prapath: i. 9 and 10*
(transl. Stev.).
* Sapindus detergens of Eastern Hindustan. A species of soapnut called in Bengalee and Hindustanee
“ reetha” (D ru r .); and the bruised fruit of the “ savonier” used according to the Institutes
of Manu v. 120 for cleansing woollen rugs from Nepaul, — may be compared: S. delergens was
observed by Roxburgh ii. 280 in Bengal, a tree twenty feet high, the pulp of its fruit used by the
natives for washing linen (Drur.).
Careya arborea o i Trofoad Hindustan. A large tree called in Tamil “ poottatanni-marum ” or
“ ave-mavoo,” in Telinga “ kumbi,” in Malabar “ pelou,” in Hindustanee or Bengalee “ p ilu ” (Drur.
index), in the environs of Bombay “ koombah” or “ kumba” (Graham) ; in which we recognize the
“ pilou ” of the Institutes of Manu ii. 45, furnishing a staff for merchants : — C. arborea was observed
by Rheede iii. pl. 36 in Malabar; by Gibson, Auld, and Graham, from Bombay to Kandesh and
Guzerat; by myself, frequent in the forest on the Ghauts ; by Roxburgh, and Wight, in other parts
of Hindustan a.s far as Coromandel, its wood used by the cabinet-makers of Monghyr, also for hoops,
and its bark twisted into cords for matchlock men (Drur.).
Rubia cordifolia of Subtropical Eastern Asia. Distinguished as Indian madder, and called in
Hindustanee “ munjittee,” in Bengalee “ munjith ” or “ aroona,” in Tamil “ manjittee ” or “ sawil
codie,” in Telinga “ mandastie ” (D ru r .) ; and the madder-tinted garb of the military student is
mentioned in the Institutes of Manu, — and by Bhavabhuti uttar. 4 (transl. Wils.) : embalming and
cloth dyed with “ manjistha” are mentioned in the Kasi khanda, practises according to Wilson (note
Vishn. pur. iv. 5) that would be thought impure at the present d a y : the mandjuchakas is mentioned
in the Saddharma pundarika (Burn. ii. 4), and the “ manjisht’ha ” or “ manduka ” or “ mandukaparni ”
or “ k a la ” by Susrutas sar. 10 to chik. 16: R. cordifolia was observed by Graham “ common at
Mahableshwur;” by Ainslie, Roxburgh, and Wight, from the Neilgherries to Dindigul, cultivated
according to Drury in Assam and Nepaul, but seems chiefly produced in Kuchar, the root “ in great
demand in the adjacent countries for dyeing coarse cloths and stuffs red,” and exported even to
London. Farther East, R. cordifolia was observed by Wallich along the Irawaddy (Mason v. 512) ;
by Thunberg, in different parts of the Malayan archipelago ; by him, and Kaempfer, in Japan, growing
spontaneously and used for dyeing; by Pallas trav. iii. pl. 50, as far as the border of Siberia; is
known to occur also in China (Pers.). By European colonists, was carried to Austral Africa (Thunb.),
and to Majorca (Pers.).
Vernonia anthelmintica of Tropical Flindustan and Ceylon. Annual, and called in Sanscrit
and Bengalee “ somraj” (Lindl.), in Hindustanee “ buckche,” in Telinga “ adavie-zeela-kura,” in
Tamil “ caat-siragum ” (Drur.); and the “ sami ” of the Institutes of Manu viii. 247 — is referred here
by Deslongchamps; the “ somaraji” or “ somavriksha ” or “ syama” is mentioned by Susrutas sutr.
46 to chik. 25 and kalp. 7 : V. anthelmintica was observed by Rheede ii. pl. 24 in Malabar; liy
Graham, “ in waste places ” around Bombay ; by Hamilton, Roxburgh, and Wight, in other parts of
Flindustan as far as B en ga l; and by Burmann pl. 95, on Ceylon ; die seeds according to Drury “ very
bitter ” and “ considered powerfully anthelmintic and diuretic,” an ingredient also “ of a compound
powder” given in snake-biles.
Bassia latifolia of Tropical Flindustan. The mowhra tree is called in Sanscrit “ madhaca,” in