LABIATE TRIBE 35 



it in chambers and places of recreation, pleasure, and repose, and when feasts 

 and banquets are to be made." Even within the last century the odour of 

 Mint has been considered as good for the head, and many would agree Avith 

 Dodsley in his estimate of this and other plants. Referring to the works of 

 the great Creator, he says : — 



' ■ He the salubrious leaf 

 Of cordial sage, the purple flowering head 

 Of fragrant lavender, enlivening Mint, 

 Valerian's fetid smell, endows benign 

 With their cephalic virtues." 



The Americans seem to have retained some of the old liking for Mint, as 

 their mint julep is a favourite beverage. Mint is highly valued in Eastern 

 countries, and the custom yet existing of placing Mint in the synagogues of 

 the Jews is probably a remnant of an old Oriental practice. Our Saviour's 

 rebuke to the Scribes and Pharisees proves that mint was in common culture 

 amongst the Jews. He, who deemed the uprightness of heart, and the love 

 of God and our neighbour, as of far higher value than the outward observance 

 even of some appointed duty, said, "Woe unto you. Scribes and Pharisees, 

 hypocrites, for ye pay tithe of Mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted 

 the weightier matters of the Law." There is little doubt that the word 

 rendered anise by our translators should have been dill ; and Rosenmiiller 

 quotes Rabbi Eliezer as saying, that the leaves, seed, and stem of dill were 

 subject to tithe, so that we have reason for inferring that Mint would be also 

 tithed. That our Saviour's words did not imply any disapproval of attention 

 to these minor duties is evident from those which followed : " These," said 

 our blessed Lord, "ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other 

 undone." The whole passage, however, certainly proves that Mint was in 

 general culture in Palestine as a garden herb ; and though it is exceedingly 

 difficult, if not impossible, to tell the exact species of Mint valued by the 

 Jews, especially as several of the species are very nearly allied to each other, 

 yet the Mentha sylvestris, our Common Horse Mint, and the Mentha satira, 

 are probably the kinds referred to. The latter species, which by some 

 botanists is called 31. arv^nsis, is very widely diffused, and occurs in Greece, 

 in parts of Caucasus, in the Altai range, and as far as Cashmere. Dr. Royle 

 says that the Horse Mint (M. sylvestru) is the most common species in Syria, 

 and observes that it was found by Russell at Aleppo, and mentioned by him 

 as one of the herbs cultivated in the gardens there. It also occurs in Greece, 

 Taurus, the Altai range, and Cashmere. This author quotes passages from 

 Celsus and Pliny, proving the high estimate of Mint among the ancient Jews. 

 He remarks also that Dioscorides mentions it as useful to the stomach, and 

 peculiarly grateful as a condiment. Mint was employed by the ancients in 

 the preparation of many dishes. One very old use of Mint is still retained 

 in Holstein, in Germany, where, when the peasants lay the remains of their 

 departed friends in the tomb, Mint is carried by youths attending the 

 funeral. 



It is not unlikely that in former days more species Avere in common 

 culture in this country, where now the Spearmint and Peppermint are the 

 two plants chiefly selected. Our fathers had also their Crosse Mint, Browne 



5—2 



