miBE^, 457 



Burhun was written, it shows at any rate that the use of saffron - 

 coloured rice in Persia is of great antiquity. The earliest 

 European travellers in India called turmeric Croats tndwuSy 

 "Indian saffron/^ and eyidently regarded it as a suhstitute 

 for that article. In those days saffron was of much more 

 importance in Europe than it is now, and the punishment for 

 adulterating it was death. 



Saffron was much employed by the Romans for seasoning 

 food, and to make an essence with wine and water which was 

 used as a perfume {VUny, 21, 6, 17; Lucretius^ ii., 416; Odd A^ 

 A. 104, &c.). The name Zafarcm occurs in the ^iliah of El 

 Jowhari who wrote in the 10th century, and from Arabian 

 writers (Istakhri, Edrisi) we learn that it was cultivated at this 

 time in Persia at Darband and Ispahan. It is not improbable 

 that the plant was carried from that country to China, as, 

 according to the Chinese, it was introduced by Mahometans. 

 Chinese writers have recorded that under the Yuen dynasty 

 (A. D. 12S0 — 1368) it became the custom to mix Sa-fa-lang 

 (Zafaranj with food {BretsGhucidei% Chinese Botanical WorliSy 

 Foochow, 1870). Saffron appears to have been cultivated in 

 Spain in the 10th century. The Baja Nirghanta^ which was 

 written about 600 years ago by a native of Cashmere^ sj^eaks 

 of saffron as coming from Cashmere, and the plant is still 

 cultivated there on the Karcewahs* near Pampur ; the plants 

 are arranged in parterres, and flower about the end of October; 

 the inhabitants of the district are then summoned to gather the 

 crop ; during this time they live in the gardens which are 

 guarded by police to prevent theft {luce, Ilandhoolc of Cash- 

 mere). 



The earliest medical writers mention saffron^ and describe it 

 as cardiacal and aj^hrodisiacal, improving the complexion, in- 

 creasing the brilliancy of the eyes, and promoting the delivery 

 of women. They also considered it to be diuretic, astringent, 

 deobbtruent, and cmmcnagogue. Sa ffron, formerly as highly 



* AUuvihI ilfits from 100 to 200 feet Wv^h and 2 to 5 tniles loui^, situated 

 along the borders of the Cashmere Valley ; they are sepanitcil from each 

 other by tiecp raviues, and have the flj)pearauce of flat-topped liilLs. 



Ill,- 58 



