pPant "bore, "begei^/, aabl "bijric/. 27 I 



The seed was administered to women under the belief that it 



induced and helped conception. To dream of Carrots signifies 



profit and strength to them that are at law for an inheritance, for 

 we pluck them out of the ground with our hand, branches, strings, 

 and veins. Carrots are held to be under Mercury. 



CASHE^V. — The nuts of the Cashew {Afiacardium occidentale) 

 are suj)posed by the Indians to excite the passions. The negroes of 

 the West Indies say a branch of the Cashew-tree supplied the 

 crown of Thorns used at our Saviour's crucifixion, and that, in con- 

 sequence, one of the bright golden petals of the flower became 

 black and blood-stained. 



CASSAVA. — The South American Cassava {J atropha M anihot) 

 is also known as the edible-rooted physic-nut, and in Brazil it bears 

 the name of Mandioc. There are two kinds of Cassavas — the bitter 

 and the sweet. From the roots of both bread is made, the tubers 

 being first peeled and then ground into farina, and a poisonous 

 juice expressed. Should this juice be drunk by cattle or poultry, 

 they will become speedily much swollen, and die in convulsions ; 

 but if the same liquid is boiled with meat, and seasoned, it forms a 

 favourite soup, called by the Brazilians Casserepo. The juice is 

 used by the Indians for the poisoning of arrows : it is sometimes 

 fermented, and converted into an intoxicating liquor in great favour 

 with the Indians and negroes. Tapioca is a kind of starch pre- 

 pared from the farina of Cassava roots. 



CASSIA. — The Cassia mentioned by Moses in Exodus 

 XXX., 24 (called in Hebrew Kidda, the bark), was a sweet spice 

 commanded to be used in the composition of the holy oil employed 

 in the consecration of the sacred vessels of the Tabernacle. It is 

 supposed to have been the bark of an aromatic tree, known by the 

 ancients as Costiis, preparations of the bark and root of which were 

 sometimes burnt on the pagan altars. There were three sorts of 

 Costus — the Arabian, the Indian, and the Syrian ; the root of the 

 first of these was most esteemed for its aromatic properties : it had 

 a fragrant smell similar to the perfume of Orris or Violets, and was 

 called Costus dulcis or odoratus. 



CASSIA-TREE. — The Cassia, or Senna-tree, belongs to a 

 genus numerous in species, which are generally diffused in warm 

 countries : among them is the Moon-tree of the Chinese, and this 

 Cassia is considered by them to be the first of all medicaments. 

 They have a saying, " The Cassia can be eaten, therefore it is 

 cut down," which probably explains their belief that in the middle 

 of the Moon there grows a Cassia-tree, at the foot of which is a 

 man who is endeavouring continually to fell it. This man is one 

 Kang Wou, a native of Si-ho. Whilst under the tuition of a Geni, 

 he committed a grave fault, for which he was condemned from 

 henceforth to cut down the Cassia-tree. They call the Moon, 

 therefore, the Kue'ilan, or the disk of the Cassia. The Chinese give 



