S err AMINES. 401 



Himalayas of poisonous and non -poisonous aconites growing 

 side by side (see Vol. I., pp. 1, 15, 18, 20). 



It would appear also that tlie Curcumas have no claim to the 

 name of zedoary, which was probably first given to them about 

 the middle of the 16th century, as Clusius*s figure of Gedwar is 

 certainly meant for the pendulous tuber of a Curcuma. The 

 substitution of the cheaper for the more expensive article is 

 rendered highly probable by the fact that Zerumbet was con- 

 sidered by the Arabians to be very little inferior to Jadwar as an 

 antidote to poisons. Ibn Sina, Ibn Baitar, and Ibn Jazla in the 

 Minlidj use almost the same words in speaking of these drugs ; of 

 Jadwar they say :-t^l'^'j cA^J ' J^ 'a- ^'. f-^--" O^^J -?r, "^it 

 is an antidote for all i^oisons, even those of aconite and the viper"; 

 and of Zerumbet -J I J '^:?-' I -J ^ c/^ '-^^ ^h^^^t^'^ ^H u^ 

 "it is most useful against the bites of venomous animals, and is 

 almost equal to Jadwar. " Both drugs were considered to have 

 properties similar to Darunaj (see Vol. II., p. 292). Ainslie 

 {Mfit hid., i, 492) remarks that 0. ZeJoaria is the Lampooi/ang 

 of the Javanese, and the Lampuium of llumphius {nerh. Amh, 

 v., p. ] 48), and that it is a native of the East Indies, Cochin- 

 China, and Otaheite. He quotes Geoffroy's description of the 

 drug, whicJi leaves no doubt as to its identity with the modern 

 Ivachora— " Foris cinerea, intus Candida; sapore acri-amaricante 

 aroniatico ; odore tenui fragrante, ac valde aromaticum suavi- 

 tatera, cum tunditur aut manducatur, spirantc et ad camphoram 

 alifpiatonus accodente." Guibourt states that C. Ze(loaria is the 

 Zerumbet of Serapion, Pomet, and Lemery. The following is 

 his description of it :— " The round zedoary is greyish-white 

 externally heai^, compact, grey and often horny internally, 

 having a bitter and strongly camphoraceous taste, like that of 

 the lono- zedoary, which it also resembles in odour. The odour 

 of both° drugs is analogous with that of ginger, but weaker 

 unless the rhizome be powdered, when it developes a powerful 

 aromatic odour, similar to that of cardamoms." [Hist. Nat. 

 G""^ Ed. Vol. IL, p. 213.) In our opinion there is no doubt 

 that 0. Zedoaria is the source of the round and long zedoary 

 of commerce. The plaiit is common in Bombay gardens, and 



III.— 51 



