5 8 8 CH R O N O L O G IC A L A R R A N G EM E N T
H e n ie r o c a l l i s f l a v a of the Uralian plains. Called on the Upper Obi “ tepaia-trava,” and from
early times made into small mats by the peasants and Tartars to place under saddles, — observed
by Pallas iii. 391 on the Upper Obi, becoming frequent towards the Yenisei. Westward, is known
to occur seemingly wild on the plains of Hungary and as far as Switzerland (Pers.) ; is termed
“ lilium non bulbosum” by Dodoens 204 (Spreng.) ; and has become a well known garden flower
(Linn., and Jacq. hort. pl. 137). By European colonists was carried to Northeast America, where
it continues in gardens.
“ 570B. C.” (Percev. i. 143 to 269, and Badger edit. Varthem. 32), Abraha, having failed to
divert the pilgrimage to his church at Sana, and the building having been defiled by a native of
Mecca, a f the head of an army invading M e c c a ; riding on an elephant, an animal never before seen
there. The Abyssinians were defeated, — and about five years later, with the aid of Persian forces
arriving by sea, were expelled from Yemen.
“ 572 A. D.” (ann. Jap., transl. Tits.), Kin-mei succeeded by his son Bin-dats, now thirty-first
dairo of Japan.
“ 573 A. D. ( = I I 16th year after Gaudama’s death,” Mason ii. 21), at the mouths of the Irawaddy
in Burmah, founding of the city and state of Pegu.
“ 574 A. D . ” (Shan annals, Richardson, and Mason iv. 72), on the upper Meinan, the city of
Labong founded by the Siamese or Shans. The Karen tribes at this time'entering Burmah.*.
D ip t e r o c a r p u s . . . . j-/. of the mountains of Burmah. Called by the Karens “ ka-nyeen-phu ”
l a r d t r e e from the consistence of its oil (Mason) ; known from early times, — and according to Mason
V. 528 to 757 growing on mountains in the Interior.
A g y n e ia iu ip u b e s of ihe Siamese countries. A curious-flowered Euphorbiaceous herb called
in Burmah “ hta-hmen-ksoke-gyee ” (Mason); and from early times, its roots used medicinally by
the Karens : — described by Buchanan (Steud.) ; observed in Burmah by Mason v. 503 ; and known
to grow as far as China (Linn., and Pers.).
S y n d e s in i s T a v o y a n a of Burmah. A Terebinthoid tree called in Burmah “ khyse” (Mason);
its wood from early times made into handsome furniture, by steeping in ferruginous mud rendered
jet black like ebony, — as the cylinder knobs one or two inches in diameter worn in the ears- of Karen
women at Ta vo y : observed by Wallich, and Mason v. 514 to 540. The valuable dye-wood called in
commerce M e r g u i r ed -w o o d , is regarded by Mason as probably identical.
E r y t h r in a to u n g - k a - ih c e t of Burmah. A fine-looking Leguminous tree called “ toung-ka-theet ”
(Mason); and from early times, selected by the Karens in preference to all others on which to train
their betel vines : — obseiwed by Mason v. 523 to 531 not uncommon in the Interior, affording “ reddish
” timber. The wood of two species of Erythrina was found by McClelland to furnish the charcoal
for making gunpowder ; and according to Mason, “ a very tolerable ” g u n p o w d e r is made by the
tribes in Northeastern Toungoo, substituting for sulphur “ juice of the orange, lime, and some other
fruits,” which “ it is said increases its inflammability.”
D a lb e r g ia ih e e t -h s o u k - y o of Burmah. A Leguminous tree termed e g g t r e e by the Karens (Mason);
its hard fine-grained wood known from early times, — “ much used for chisel handles : ” observed by
Mason v. 530 common in the forests.
P a r a i r o p ia d ig i ta ta of Southern Hindustan and Burmah. A small Araiiaceous digitate-leaved
tree called in Malabar “ únjala,” in Hindustanee “ d a in” (Drur.), in Burmah “ ba-loo-let-wa ”
(Mason) ; and from early times, an infusion of the leaves used for many internal diseases by the
Karens : — observed by Mason v. 503 indigenous in Burmah. Westward, by Roxburgh, and Wight,
on the Circars and Courtallum hi lls; by Rheede vii. pl. 28, in Malabar, but by Graham in a “ garden ”
at Bombay ; according to Drury, “ a valuable oil is procured from sections in the trunk.”
M a r s d e n a t in c t o r ia of Silhet and Burmah. An Asclepiaceous plant, from early times known to
the Karens, — cultivated by them “ and sometimes the Burmese ” as affording “ quite a good ” in d ig o -
b lu e d y e j observed by Mason v. 510 indigenous in Burmah. Westward, by Roxburgh, and Wight,
indigenous in Silhet, and cultivated in Northern Plindustan for its “ superior indigo” (Drur.).
C r a w f u r d i a ? sp . of the mountains of Burmah. A small herb having the taste and properties of
Gentian ; and from early times, used in decoction in fevers by the Karens : — frequent according to
Mason v. 494 “ on the mountains of Toungoo.”
G n i e l in a sp . A Verbenaceous tree, apparently called “ yamamee ” (Mason) ; and
from early times, its light white wood made into canoes by the Karens in some districts, and by the
Burmese into clogs : — observed by Mason v. 526 in the forests.
L a u r u s (S a s s a f r a s ) k a - 7'w a e of Burmah. A very large tree called “ ka-rwae,” and by the Karens
from its fragrance t r e e g a la 7ig a (Mason) ; known from early t ime s :— according to Mason v. 542,
scattered sparsely throughout Tenasserim.
P i p e r r ib e s io id e s of Burmah. A kind of w i l d b e te l called “ tau-kwon ” (Mason) ; and from early
O F A C C O M P A N Y IN G A N IM A L S A N D P L A N T S . 5 8 9
“ The same y e a r ” (Clint.), Joannes the third, after an interval of “ more than ten months,” succeeded
by Benedictus, sixtieth bishop of Rome. Who founded the earliest 77 iona s tic O r d e r , that of
the Benedictines. — To the monks of this order, the preservation of many ancient writings is attributed.
“ In this y e a r ” (Plumb, cosm. i.), a co}7t e t j the fifth one whose orbit is known from Chinese
observations.
“ 575 A. D.” (Marius, and Clint.), Sigibert king of the French succeeded by his son Childe-
bert IL
“ 57S, Sept. 26th” (chron. Pasch., and Clint.), Justin II. succeeded by Tiberius Constantinus,
eleventh Byzantine emperor.
“ The same y e a r ” (Nico l ) , by a synod in Egypt, Paulus Beth-Ucham Jacobite patriarch of
Antioch deposed.
The “ katas ” of ashy plumage described by Schanfara as flying all night long to reach a pool of
water, — doubtless a species of J d e r o c le s or long-winged grouse. Flocks of Pterocles flying high
overhead constitute a marked feature of the Desert, as witnessed by myself in Upper Egypt.
G 7-ewia te7i a x o iT r o p i c A l A rA h iA . Called there “ chadar ” or “ nabba,” in which we recognize
the long yellow bow of Schanfara, — or the “ naba ” of which both bows and arrows are made according
to a poet quoted by Djewhari, Ebn-Doreid, and the Kamous (De Sacy chrest.) ; G. tenax was
observed by Forskal p. cxiv among the mountains of Yemen.
“ I ’he same y e a r ” (Lib. pontif., and Clint.), Benedictus succeeded by Pelagius the younger,
sixty-first bishop of Rome.
“ 579 A. D.” (Theophylact, and Clint.), Second campaign o f Mauricius in Persia: and in
“ March,” death of Chosroes, and accession of his son Hormisdas III., nineteenth Sasanid kins; of
Persia.
B a r l e r i a n o c t í f lo r a of Tropical Arabia and the neighbouring Desert portion of Hindustan.
Called in Yemen “ s o kæ j t ; ” the “ Dhou-schatth ” or “ Dhou-tobbak ” where gazelles drop their
young, mentioned by Taabbata-scharran, — may be compared ; “ schatth ” and “ tobbak ” being plants
giving name to these places, according to Djewhari (De Sacy chrest.): B. noctíflora was observed
among the mountains of Yemen by Forskal. Farther East, was received from the vicinity of Tan-
schaur “ in aridis ” by Linnæus suppl. 290 (Pers.).
“ 580 A. D.” (Nicol.), by a synod at Braine, Gregorius of Tours justified.
“ The same y e a r ” (Chinese chron. table), end of the Tchin dynasty.
‘ 581 A. D. = ‘ kaï-hoang,’ ist year of Wen-ti I I I . ,” head of the new dynasty of the Soui (Chinese
chron. table). He promulgated a new and among other innovations, wished to introduce
the division of the people into four castes — (Pauth. 280).
“ The same y e a r ” (Clint, iv. p. ix), end of the chronicle of Marius Aventicensis.
“ 582, Aug. 13 th” (Clint, iv. p. 827), Tiberius Constantinus succeeded by Mauricius,
twelfth Byzantine emperor. Learning and the arts were protected and encouraged by M .
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times, its leaves used as a substitute for those of the true b e te l : — observed by Wallich ; and according
to Mason v. 495 indigenous in “ the Karen forests.”
D io s c o r e a sp . of Burmah. From the size and shape of the root called e le p h a ? it - fo o ty c i7 n (Mason);
and from early times, cultivated by the Karens: — observed by Mason v. 464 abundant “ in Karen
gardens, but is rarely seen among the Burmese or in market,” the root white internally.
D io s c o r e a fa s c i c u la t a o iT x o p x o A i T h o p o ta t o y a / n is called in the environs of
Calcutta “ soosnialoo ” (Drur.), in Burmah “ ka-dwae-00 ” (Mason) ; and from early times, extensively
cultivated by the Karens : — observed by Mason v. 464 “ exot ic ” in Burmah, the root “ not much
larger than a kidney potato which it much resembles both in appearance and taste.” Westward,
by Roxburgh, in the vicinity of Calcutta, largely cultivated and a starch made from its tubers
(Drur.).
D io s c o r e a a t } -o p u r p u r ea of the Siamese countries. The d a r k - p u r p le y a in is called in Burmah
“ myouk-nee ” (Mason) ; and from early times, cultivated extensively both by Karens and Burmese :
— described by Roxburgh ; observed in Burmah by Mason, enumerated as indigenous.
D io s c o r e a d a in io n a of Burmah. Called “ kywas ” (Mason); and from early times, its root though
very acrid eaten with that of other indigenous species by the Karens in times of scarcity : — described
by Roxburgh ; and observed in Burmah by Mason v. 465. (See D. pentaphylla).
B o lb o p h y l lu n i su nip iaoi\\\oU\AX A^^ooo\xxiXx\^^. An epidendric Orchid called in Burmah “ ta-
zeen-ban ” (Mason) ; and from early times, its sweet-scented straw-coloured flowers worn by Karen
youths m the lobe of the ear, and by maidens in their hair : — observed by Mason abounding in the
jungles. Transported to Europe, is described by Lindley.
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