236 pPant "bore, Iseger^f, ani. Isvjncf, 



endeavoured to hide his nakedness. Cakes of Figs were inckided 

 in the presents of provisions by which the wife of Nabal appeased 

 the wrath of David (i Sam. xxv., 18). The want of blossom on 

 the Fig-tree was considered as one of the most grievous calamities 

 by the Jews; for, growing as it did in Palestine on the Vine, the 

 tree became with the Israelites an emblem of peace and plenty, and 

 that security which, in ancient times, was thought to be enjoyed by 

 "every man under his own Fig-tree." Near the city of On, there 

 was shown for many centuries the sacred Fig-tree under which the 



Holy Family rested during the flight into Egypt. St. Augustine 



tells us, in his Confessions, that while still unconverted and in deep 

 communion with his friend Alypius on the subjecft of the Scriptures, 

 the contest within his mind was so sharp, that he hastened from 

 the presence of his friend and threw himself down beneath a Fig- 

 tree, weeping and lamenting. Then he heard what seemed the 

 voice of a child proceeding apparently from the tree, repeating 

 again and again "■Tolle, lege,'' (Take and read); and returning to 

 his friend, he took up the sacred volume, and opened it at St. 

 Paul's words: "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." He was struck 

 with the coincidence ; and considering it a Divine call, he then and 



there resolved to take up the religious profession. In India, the 



Fig-tree is greatly esteemed; one species, Ficns glomerata, is held 

 sacred by the Hindus; and the Ficus Indica, or Banyan-tree, is one 



ot the most highly venerated trees on the earth (see Banyan). 



The Andalusians have a saying, "On this life depends," in connec- 

 tion with the Fig-tree, the fruit of which they eat, fasting, in the morn- 

 ing. The Germans have a proverb, " Figs will not grow either on 

 Brambles or Thistles." Another proverb tells us that " He who 



has Figs has riches." In Sicily, the Fig-tree is looked upon as 



a tree of ill-omen. It is there thought to be the tree on which Judas 

 hung himself, and never to have thrived well since that occurrance. 

 There is an old superstition that in each leaf of a Fig-tree lurks an 

 evil spirit ; and certain blood-thirsty spectres, called Faiini Ficarii, 



are mentioned in legends. At Avola, it is popularly believed to 



be unwise to sleep beneath the shade of a Fig-tree during the 

 warmth of Summer ; should, however, anyone be foolhardy enough 

 to do so, there will appear before him the figure of a nun, holding 

 a knife in her hand, who will compel him to say whether he will 

 take it by the blade or by the handle ; if he answer, by the blade, 

 he will be forthwith slain ; but should he seleift the handle, he will 



have all manner of good fortune in store for him. In Palermo, 



they deck the Fig-tree with branches of the wild Fig woven into 



garlands, in order to ensvire the fruit ripening. A Fig-tree has 



something to do in the way of preventing hydrophobia, if we may 

 believe the following ancient English superstition: — "For tear of 

 mad hound, take the worms which be under a mad hound's tongue, 

 snip them away, lead them round about a Fig-tree, give them to 

 him who hath been rent ; he will soon be healed." To dream of 



