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5 4 0 CHRONOLOGICAL A R R A N G EM E N T
“ 259, July 22d” (Pont., and Clint.), Dionysius ordained twenty-third bishop of Rome.
“ 260 A. D .” (coins, Zosim., and Clint.), in the East, Valerianus defeated by the Persian king
Sapor, and taken prisoner. His son and colleague Gallienus remaining at home, thus became sole
Roman emperor. The name of Gallienus occurs on coins issued in Egypt.
The physician Philumenus possibly at this time writing; — he is mentioned by Oribasius, Aetius,
and Alexander Trallianus (Sm. b. d.).
Lepidium spinosum of the East Mediterranean countries. The M I A H C I A C herb of Philu-
meniis, whose chopped or bruised leaves applied fresh redden tumours, to be restored by emollient
cataplasms— (Orib. xiv. 29), is referred to some species oi pepper-w orthy Cornarius (Daremb.);
L. spinosum, its stem and branches somewhat rigid, was received from the East by Arduini ii. pl. 16
(Pers.) ; was observed by Sibthorp in Greece, by Chaubard in the Peloponnesus.
“ The same year” (Hieronym., Vict., Oros., and Clint.), iri'uption across the Alps and Rhaetia
of Alamanni and Germani into Italy, “ as far as Ravenna.”
“ 261 A. D .” (Hieronym., Vict., and Clint.), in Spain, the city of.Tarraco captured by invading
Franci. — Who after a while obtaining ships, sailed along the coast, and even passed into Africa.
“ 262 A. D .” (Clint, iv. p. 285), Demetrianus succeeded by Paulus of Samosata, “ fifteenth”
bishop of Antioch. Hymenaeus at this time “ thirty-seventh ” bishop of Jerusalem.
“ The same year” (Ammian., and Clint.), Antioch captured unexpectedly and plundered by the
Persians. At Ephesus, the temple of Diana plundered and burned by the Scythians or Goths. And
on account of the pestilence, earthquake, the claiming of the en;p;re by Odenatus at Palmyra, occu-
pying of Illyricum by Aureolus. and of Egypt by Aemilianus, the Sibylline books at Rome consulted
and a sacrifice offered to Jupiter (Trebelk).
Formosa,* forming part of what was anciently called Houang fou, was included under the Han
dynasty among the Man ty countries of Southern barbarians, — and under the Youan the inhabitants
were called Toung fan Eastern foreigners. Under the Ming tile island received the ;iame of Ky
loung, from a mountain at its Northern extreme, the neighbouring harbour being anciently called Pc
kiang No;th Bay (Ming szu 323 p. 16, and Klapr. mem. i. 323).
“ 263 A. D. = 1st year of the ‘ yen-hing ’ and 41st of Heou-tchou,” the entire extinction of the
Han dynasty— (Chinese chron. table).
“ 264 A. D. = ‘ hien-hi,’ ist year of Youan-ti IL, of the Wei ” and a descendant of Thsao-tbsao
— (Chinese chron. table).
“ 265 A. D. = ‘ tai-chi,’ ist year of Wou-ti I I . h e a d of the new dynasty of the Tcin — (Chinese
chron. table).
Thca bohea of China. The use of tea traced in Chinese writings as far back as this year —
(geogr. plant, lond. tract soc. p. 123) ; is mentioned also in Chinese history in the “ Fourth” century,
again in the “ Sixth ” (Schouw 21) ; was first taxed “ in 763 ; ” and from China, the living shrub was
introduced into Japan “ prior to the Tenth century,” as appears from Japanese accounts. “ S ah ” or
tea is mentioned by the early Arab travellers in China, Wahab and Abuzeid ; also by Mehemet Arabs
(as quoted by Ramusio). The beverage has never been much used among the Arab tribes ; which
may in part account for its having so long remained unknown to Europeans. T. bohea was observed
by Kaempfer, and Thunberg, everywhere in Japan, both cultivated and springing up spontaneously.
“ The same year” (Euseb., and Clint.), Dionysius succeeded by Maximus, fourteenth bishop of
Alexandria.
“ The same year ” (Clint.), letter o f Longinus naming several living philosophers ; and among
them, Eubulus of Athens, and his own pupil Porphyrius.
Porphyrins at this time thirty-two years old by his own account ( = 2 “ 30 in tenth Gailien.,”
vit. Plot. iv. p. 99), and for the last two years a jiupil of Plotinus, — In the same treatise, Porphyrius
mentions the “ sixty-eighth year” of his own age.
Britain is mentioned by Porphyrius, and termed “ fertilis provincia tyrannorum ” having many
kings, — as translated by Gildas hist. 4.
* Olea fragrane of Tropical and Subtropical Eastern Asia. Called in Japan “ mokusei ” (Jap.
c. c. 35) ; and the “ san yeou houa ” flowers of “ jasmin sauvage” exported from Formosa to China
for scenting tea— (Klapr. mem. i. 327) may be compared : O. fragrans was observed by Louieiro in
Anam and Tropical China: by Thunberg pl. 2, in Japan, where it is cultivated in gardens (Jap. c. c.).
Colocasia? snaxima of Formosa and the Philippines. Called in Tagalo, Pampango, and Bisaya
“ b iga” (Blanco) ; and the “ arum majus ” growing in the Southern portion of Formosa and having
leaves as large as a house, — much used by the natives (Klapr, mem. i. 331), may be compared: C.
maxima was. observed by Blanco in shallow water on the Philippines, the leaves five feet long, and
the decaying petioles triturated and applied externally in toothache.
IP:
OF A C COM PA N Y ING A N IM A L S A N D P L A N T S. 5 4 1
The Hindus are described by Porphyrius abst. iv. 17 as divided into two factions : the Brahmans,
hereditary throughout; and the CAMANAIOI (Budhists), indiscriminately selected and who practise
celibacy, have no possessions, and pray at the sound of bells.
266 A. D. ( = 276 — “ 10 years reign ” in the Mahavamsa xxxvi.), Ghota-abaya succeeded by
his son Dette-tissa, now king of Ceylon.
“ 267 A. D .” (Trebell., Zosim., and Clint.), at Palmyra, Odenatus put to death, and succeeded
by Zenobia, In Greece, the Heruli (a Gothic tribe) after pillaging Athens, repulsed by a band of
“ two thousand” men under the historian Dexippus.
“ The same year” in Gaul (Vict., Plieronym., and Clint.), Postumus succeeded by Victorinus
as king ; next by M arius; and at the close of the year, by Tetricus. Coins of all these princes are
extant.
One hundred and thirty-seventh generation. Sept. ist, 267, onward mostly beyond youth ;
Rabbi Jochanan: the Greek poet Aurelius Apollinaris; the historian Callicrates of T yre; the
Christian Greek writers, Malchion of Antioch, Pierius of Alexandria, and T heognostus: the Latin
writer, the poet Nemesianus ; the Latin Christian writer Arnobius.
About this time (Gesen., and others), the modern Hebi'ew letters make their appearance for the
first time ; in inscriptions at Palmyra. — The “ vowel-points,” were introduced more than two centuries
later, and after the time of Hieron/mus.
Ceasing of the Great pestilence, after continuing its ravages “ fifteen years ” (Hieronym., and
Clint.). The pestilence (according to Sharp) is described by the physician A retaeus:— who is
mentioned by Aetius xi. i.
Menispernium (A nam irtd) cocculus of Tropical Hindustan and the neighbouring portion of the
Malayan archipelago. The imported seeds are called in commerce cocculus iiidicns (Lindl.) : the
KOKAAoU seeds prescribed by Aretaeus, — may be compared ; and the “ mahizehrah ” of Hobaisch,
Elmansuri, and the Persians, identified by Ebn Baitar with the “ samm elsamak,” is referred here by
Sontheimer. Farther East, A. cocculus was observed in Hindustan by Rheede vii. pl. i and xi. pl.
62, Colebrooke, and W ight; by Graham, “ a twining shrub” growing “ throughout the C oncans” and
called “ kakmari-ka-beenje ; ” by Heifer, “ indigenous” in Tenasserim (Mason v. p. 490) ; and by
Rumphius v. pl. 22, on Java. The seeds according to Lindley “ are a well-known poisonous drug,
used occasionally in the form of powder or ointment for destroying pediculi, and in some skin diseases,”
but chiefly “ to render malt liquor intoxicating; ” a practice “ said to be persevered in,
although prohibited by severe enactments.”
Menispermum (Cocculus) leceba of middle and upper Egypt. — Called in Egypt “ lebakh el-'
gebel; ” and the account of the drug “ lehibach ” by Rhazes, and Avicenna, may be compared with
this and the preceding plant: C. leteba was observed by Forskal not far from Cairo growing in the
Desert, and by Delile in upper Egypt.
Listera ovata of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. A small orchid called in Britain
tway-blade or bifoil, in medieval Latin “ bifolium ” (Prior) ; and the A I TT A I 0 N of Aretaeus, — and
Aetius (Ruel ii. 147), may be compared: L. ovata is termed “ o. bifolia” by Tournefort inst. 437;
and is known to grow from Denmark throughout middle Europe (fl. Dan. pi. 137, Lam. fl. fr., and
Pers.) ; was observed by Sibthorp in woods in the Peloponnesus.
“ 268, March ” (coins, Vict., and C lint), Gallienus succeeded by .Aurelius Claudius, thirty-fourth
Roman emperor. The name of Aurelius Claudius occurs on coins issued in Egypt.
“ In autumn, in the seventh lunation” (Pauth. 270), display of meteorites'nW.oessed in China:
a multitude of shooting stars, like a shower, falling or following each other Westward.
The sun-temple and principal stiuctures at Taclmor or Palmyra, erected under the government
of queen Zenobia (Lubke and Lutrow).
“ 269 A. D .” (Clint.), invasion of Egypt by queen Zenobia of Palmyra ; and with partial success.
Pier name, with that of her colleague Vabalathus, occurs on coins issued at Alexandria.
“ Dec. 26th” (Clint.), death of D ionysius; and after a few days, Felix ordained twenty-fourth
bishop of Rome.
“ 270 A. D .” (Trebell., and Clint.), the Goths overwhelmingly defeated, and quieted by Aurelius
Claudius. For which service, his “ statue in gold ” was placed in the capitol at Rome.
Genista candicans of the Mediterranean countries. The H I R S V T A - G E N I S T A under which
cows are reposing in Titus Calphurnius eel. ii. — (Dod. pempt. vi. 2. 2), may be compared: G candicans
was observed by Dodoens in Spain ; is termed “ cylisus monspessulanus medicm folio siliquis
dense congestis et villosis ” by Tournefort inst. 648, “ c. pubescens ” by Moench ; is known to grow
in Italy and Southern France (Pers.) ; was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in the Peloponnesus
and on the mountains of Euboea. “ G. Canariensis,” known to grow in Spain and on the Canary
Islands, the flowers fragrant (Pers.), is regarded by Chaubard as not distinct.
“ Before sum mer” (coins, and Clint.), Aurelius Claudius succeeded by Aurelianus, now thirtyìiF'
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