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y jg CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT
from China, M. decumanus was aboriginally though perhaps unintentionally introduced throughout
the islands-of the Pacific ; left behind in some instances after the disappearance of human inhabitants,
as on Gardner’s and Enderby’s coral-islands in the Phoenix Group. At a comparatively modern period
M. decumanus was introduced into Greece and Europe ; was seen in Egypt by Baumgarten in. 5, and
so far as I could Judge without close examination, by myself. By European colomsts, was unintentionally
carried acros's the Atlantic to Northeast America, where it has become frequent.
At “ Cascar” (Cashgar) in Central Asia, Marco Polo 51 and 152 found “ hennîtes, aban et
monester asez de lor foi ’“ (Lamaism, or perhaps pure Budhism) ; and though so far North, “ banbaxe ”
or cotton was cultivated. He also speaks of “ Kesimur” (Cashmere) ; and of (the lofty table-land
^ In the North, Marco Polo 213 and 71 mentions “ Rosie ” (Russia), and islands m that direction
where “ jerfaus ” ox falcons are procured (Iceland). But the country North of the “ Altai ” as far as
the ocean, is described as subject to the Great khan, and inhabited by “ sauvaje jens ” called ‘ Mecri ;
who “ ne ont bief ne vin ” have neither corn nor wine, live on animal food, chavauchent les cert
use the reindeer for horses, and follow the usages and customs ofthe Tartars. He also mentmns fee
»real traffic in/«rr in that region, the black fo x j “ gibellines” (Mustela zibellma) the sable; the
“ erm in" (Mustela erminea); “ orses toutes blances ” the white or Polar bear (Ursus maritimus);
an d e v e n (hardly in use nearer than Kamtschatka). ^
On reaching China, Marco Polo 85 found at Canbalu (Peking) a great bell sounding at night to
confine the citizens to their houses, Black stones, “ pieres noires qe se cavent des montaingnes
(coal) used for fuel. From Canbalu, a great canal leading South. And in other Chinese cities, many
sagacious merchants, and men of all professions, philosophers, naturalists, “ grant filosofe e grant mire
naturel qe mout stuent bien nature ” (1.^ c. 102, 14S, and 151). ■ ^ ^ j
By govexomexit, faper-money was issued, redeemable.for special purposes in uncoined silver and
o-old While in other countries of Central and Southeastern A.sia, Marco Polo 96 and 118 found
ft porcelaine blance celle qe se trovent en la mer” cowries (Cypræa monetas) used for money m addition
to silver and gold. — Cowries for money are mentioned also by Ebn-Arabschah m his history of
Timour (De Sacy chrest. note to Makriz.). , , , r* Calamus rudentum of Tropical Eastern Asia. The common rattan; and clearly the split
“ canne ” of which the rope for towing vessels on the river “ Ouian ” was made, accordmg to Marco
Polo 147--Chinese near Macao making ropes of split rattan are mentioned by G. Bennet wand.
(Royle) ■ “ rattan cables,” by Dampier; and the cable of Chinese junks was observed by myself to
consist of rattans twisted together; the living C. rudentum is termed “ palma jureus albens by
Rumnhius v. pl. 53 ; and was observed by Loureiro 260 in Anam. Westward, by Graham m ^ai-
dens” only near Bombay, boxes'and bales of merchandise secured with rattans may have been
brought at an early period to Egypt, but in Europe these stems continued so little known that one is
figured by C. Bauhin (ed. Matthiol. 58). , , , a- 1 n- q „11; now
“ 128s, Apr. 2d” (Alst., and Nicol.), Martinus II. succeeded by cardinal Giacomo Savelh, now
Honorius IV., thirty-fourth pope. , , , ■ Anfl
“ The same year” (rudim. chron. Lond.), in England, the court of king’s bench instituted. And
the abbey church of Westminster completed.
“ The same year” (Alst.), end of the chronicle of Martinus Polus.
“ i»86 A. D.” (Nicol.), a synod at Naumburg. Against “ those who imprisoned bishops and clerks.
“ In this year” (Humb. cosm. v.), charts, astrolabes, and the compass mentioned by Raimimdus
Lullius maravill. orb. as in use among the Barcelonians. — He died “ in 1315 ” (Pouchet).
“ July 8th ” (Nicol), a synod at Ravenna. The practice introduced by the laity of inviting jongleurs
and buffo on s at weddings or when knighted, was condemned. _
“ The same year” (Pauth.), by the mandarins of Fou-kien, the ships visiting one of the poits ot
Southern China stated to have come from -‘ more than ninety foreign kingdoms.”
“ In this year (=685 A. H,” of Ferisht. Elph.), Bulbun succeeded by his grandson Kei Kobad,
now tenth sultan of Delhi.
T he Persian poet Saadi writing. — H e died “ in 1291.” , ,.£ 1- ™ ” the
Tulipa Gesneriana of the Uralian plains. Called in Britain tu lf, by old writera “ tulipán the
Turkish word for turban, in Persian “ dnlbend” (Prior) in FBndustanee “ lala or shaqaik
(D’roz.): the “ tulipe” of the gardens is mentioned by Saad. - (Babou^iameh. and K apr. mein. »
55) ■ T. Gesneriana was observed by Pallas trav. i. 384 aboundmg on the Yadr ; was
Constantinople in or about . 554 (Balbin., and Beckm.) probably by Busbecke, a n d became £ a £
vourite gardffi flower throughout Europe ; is described by Camerarius ; was observed by
cultivation on Lebanon; is known to occur seemingly wild m Ihrace, Cap^docm, a
(Pers and Spreng.) ; and Hindustanee names indicate its presence in Northern Hindustan. By
European colonists, was carried to Northeast America, where it continues in gardens.
“ In this year” (Way pref. pr. pm.), the most highly esteemed of medieval dictionaries, the catho-
licon or summa of Joliannes Januensis de Balbis completed. — The work is quoted by Galfridus pr.
pm., and was first printed “ in 1460.”
Teucrium scorodonia of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Britain wood-sage
(Prior), in which we recognize the SKL^IK S llV e S t r iS o f Johannes Januensis cath., — identified
by Galfridus pr. pm. with the “ ambrosia,” and translated “ wylde sawge ” in the Ortus vocab. : T.
scorodonia is termed “ chamædrys fruticosa sylvestris melissæ folio” by Tournefort inst. 205, “ t. sylvestre
” by Lamarck fl. fr. ; and is known to grow in woods throughout middle Europe as far as Britain
(Pers., and Curt. lond. v. pl. 40). Eastward, was observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in the Peloponnesus.
“ About this time” (Klajjr. chrest. p. vii and 249), Aisin Gioro elected chief by Tungusi tribes
associating along the Sounggari above its confluence with the Amour. The new nation received the
name of “ Mandchou.”
Tombs covered at great expense with large stones, not uncommon in Daouria, are claimed by
the Tungusi* as those of their ancestors — (Pall. trav. iv. 342). The Tungusi are further described
by Pallas as having the face broader and more flattened than the Mongols, but their language manners
and costume much resembling those of the Bouriates Mongols ; their hair black and long, with very
little beard.
Rhododendron chrysanthum of the mountains of East Siberia as far as Kamtchatka. A low
shrub called by the Tartars “ schei ” tea, by the Koibales “ kaschkara,” by the Cossacks on the
Upper Yenisei “ sabyna-trawa,” in Daouria by both natives and Russians “ tchernogriff ” or “ kelarsk ”
(Pall), and from early times employed medicinally:—observed by Steller, its leaves intoxicating a
tame deer, and employed in consequence by his Russian servants to intoxicate themselves ; observed
also by Gmelin iv. pl. 54 in East Siberia; by Sokolof, on the high mountains of Daouria; by Pallas
iv. 532 and fl. i. pl 30, on the mountains along the Upper Yenisei. Its medicinal properties are
commended by Koelpin (Lindl).
“ In this year” (mission to Ava p. 79), ten Chinese envoys murdered at the Burmese court for
insisting on wearing boots in the royal presence.
“ 1287 A. D.” (Marco Polo, and Pauth. 360), Nayen commanding in Eastern Tartary, and who
had been baptized a Christian, conspiring against his relative Khoubilai-Khan, and defeated by him
in battle. ft
“ March i8th ” (Nicol), a synod at Wurtzburg. “ A levy of the tenth penny on all ecclesiastical
property” was obtained by the pope.
“ The same year” (Lubke and Lutrow), in Sweden, the cathedral at Upsal commenced ; under a
French architect, Estienne de Bonneuil *
-- 1288 .A. D.” (art de verif.), Gouda succeeded by Fusimi, cousin of “ Fikakusa,” and now dairo
of Japan.
“ Feb. 15th” (Nicol), Honorius IV. succeeded by cardinal Jeronimo, now Nicolaus IV., thirty-
fifth pope. Philip IV. le Bel ruling France; and Margaret?, Scotland. — Under the pontificate of
Nicolaus IV., “ the commencement of the year at Rome was fixed at Easter.”
Simeon de Cordo Januensis, physician to pope Nicolaus IV., at this time writing. He had visited
Sicily and the Greek islands — (Spreng., and Pouchet).
Pimpinella dissecta of Western Europe. T h e SKX IjrK^ K distinguished from the pllTlpl-
ne L LK by Simeon de Cordo, differing according to a proverb in having no hairs, — mentioned also by
Matthæus Sylvaticus jrand. 573 f. 162 (Spreng,), may be compared: the “ saxífraga” of the drug-
shops is clescribed by Ruel iii. 85 as smoother than the “ pampinule: ” P. dissecta is described by
Dodoens p. 315 (Spreng.) ; is known to grow in woods from Paris to the Mediterranean (Retz obs.
iii. pl 2, Thuill, and Thore), according to Lindley, the medicinal “ effects as in P. saSffraga.”
Pimpinella magna of Western Europe. Much resembling the preceding, — but regarded as
distinct: described by Miller, and Linnæus ; observed by Scopoli in Carniolia; known to grow from
Denmark to the Mediterranean (fl. Dan. pl. 1155, Engl. bot. pl 40S, Jacq. austr. pl. 396), and
* Ribes procumbens of Daouria. Called there “ mochovaia smorodina,” known from early times,
— ancl observecl by Pallas iv. 362.
Pyrus baccata otYaXit Siberia. Called beyond Lake Baical “ iablotchki,” its fruit resembling a
little apple and known frim earlv times, — observed by Pallas iv, 142 abounding on the Selenga;
known to grow also on tiie Schilka river of Daouria (Pers.).
¿///««r of East Siberia, A small tree called beyond Lake Baical “ ilimovnik,” and
known from early times, — observed by Pallas iv. 143 abounding on the Selenga.
If