54^ pPant "bore, TsegeT^/, dnsl Tsurlc/-. 



called Mayiatta Codant, the devotees anoint themselves with Saffron 

 ointment, and go about colle(51;ing alms, in return for which they 

 distribute scented sticks, partly composed of Sandal-wood, which 

 are received with great veneration. In the Burman empire, 

 it is customary on the the 12th of April (the last day of their 

 calendar) for ladies to sprinkle with Rose-water and Sandal-wood 

 all they meet, to wash away the impurities of the past year, and 

 commence the new one free from sin. The Mussulmans of India 

 in all their religious ceremonies burn ood, an incense compound of 

 Sandal-wood, Aloe, Patchouli, Benzoin, &c. Sundul, or Sandal-wood 

 ointment, is likewise used in innumerable instances for religious 

 purposes ; and it is employed to exorcise evil spirits. Magic 

 circles, squares, and figures are drawn on a plank with Sundul, and 

 the individual supposed to be possessed of a demon is made to sit 

 in the centre : then the exorciser pronounces an incantation in 

 Arabic, and burns some incense under the nose of the patient, who 

 solemnly inhales the fumes, and by that means smokes out the 

 demon. The Parsis, who are followers of Zoroaster, renew the 

 undying sacred fire of their altars with Sandal and other precious 

 woods. 



SANICLE. — The healing virtues of the Sanicle {Sanicula) 

 have, in England, passed into a proverb : " He that hath Sanicle 

 needeth no surgeon ; " whilst the French have a corresponding old 

 saying, recording its curative powers : — 



" Qui a la Bugle et la Sanicle 

 Fait au chirurgions la nicle." 



" Who Bugle and Sanicle hath 

 May safely at the surgeons laugh." 



In England, it was in former days called Self-heal, for according to 

 one old herbalist, it would " make whole and sound all wounds and 



hurts, both inward and outward." Sanicle is held to be under 



the rule of Venus. 



SARDEA. — It is considered that the Siuni latifolium is the 

 plant known by the ancients as Sardea, which was supposed to 

 grow in Sardinia, and which possessed the singular power of pro- 

 voking sardonic laughter. Sallust speaks of this mystic plant as 

 resembling Celery. 



SATYRION.— The appellation of Satyrion (from the Greek 

 Saturos, a Satyr) is applied to several species of Orchis, from their 

 reputed aphrodisiac characfler. The Romans believed that the 

 roots of these plants formed the food of the Satyrs, and, on account 

 of its exciting nature, prompted them to commit those excesses 



which were one of their characfleristics. In Gerarde's ' Herbal,' 



we read that most of these plants were used for the purpose of ex- 

 citing the amatory passions : some of them were called Serapiades, 

 because " sundry of them do bring forth floures resembling flies 

 and such like fruitful and lascivious insecfts, as taking their name 



