pPant T9or©, Tseger^/, oneL Isijric/', 485 



and in an ark of GSme the mother of the infant Moses put her babe, 

 and laid it in the Flags by the brink of the river Nile. The ancient 

 Egyptians plaited the stems of the Papyrus not only into little 

 boats, but mto sails, mats, and sandals. The fabrication in parti- 

 cular of little boats appears to have been practised by them to an 

 immense extent, and to have commenced in the very earliest days 

 of the nation. M. de Castelnau says that the Reed-boats still 

 in use amongst the Peruvians exactly resemble the pi(5tured 

 representations of the Egyptian ones, as preserved on the walls of 

 the tomb of Rameses III. at Thebes. Bundles of Papyrus-stems 

 furnished models for the shafts of some of the pillars of the ancient 

 Egyptian temples, and the bases of these were ornamented with 

 representations of the sheaths that encircle the foot of the flower- 

 stalk. The Papyrus-plant supplied the material of which the 

 famous paper, both rough and fine, was manufacftured in ancient 

 times. Papyrus paper made 2000 years B.C., or anterior to the 

 time of Abraham, is still in existence. It was an article of com- 

 merce long before the time of Herodotus, and it remained in use 

 till the seventh century. This Papyrus paper was prepared from 

 the white pith of the stoutest stems of the Reeds which grew in 

 great abundance in the pools caused by the overflowing of the 



Nile. Plutarch relates, that when Agesilaus visited Egypt, he 



was so delighted with the chaplets of Papyrus sent him by the king, 

 that he took some home when he returned to Sparta. 



PARSLEY. — Hercules is said to have selecfted Parsley to form 

 the first garlands he wore. The Greeks held Parsley (Petroselinum) 

 in great reputation. A crown of dried and withered Parsley was 

 given to the vicftor at the Isthmian games ; and one of green Parsley 

 to the conqueror at the Nemean games, in memory of the death of 

 Archemorus, the infant son of Lycurgus, who, laid down by his 



nurse on a sprig of Parsley, was killed by a serpent. A branch 



of Laurel and a crown of Parsley were given to the god of banquets. 

 At Greek banquets the guests wore crowns of Parsley, under the 



belief that the herb created quiet and promoted an appetite. 



Greek gardens were often bordered by Parsley and Rue ; hence 

 arose the saying, when an undertaking was in contemplation, but 

 not really commenced : " Oh, we are only at the Parsley and Rue ! " 

 Parsley, again, was in great request for the purpose of decorating 

 graves; and the Greeks were fond of strewing sprigs of the herb 

 over the bodies of the dead. A despairing lover cries: — 

 ** Garlands that o'er thy doors I hung, 



Hang withered now and crumble fast ; 

 Whilst Parsley on thy fair form flung, 



Now tells my heart that all is past I '* 



From these funereal associations the herb acquired an ominous 

 significance ; and " to be in need of Parsley " was a proverbial ex- 

 pression meaning to be on the point of death. Plutarch tells of a 

 panic created in a Greek force marching against the enemy by their 



