pParit Tqoi-c, bege^/, aa3. Tsijncy. 557 



her that she could not regain her child until the next St. John's Day. 

 When this day arrived, the woman repaired to the cave, and found to 

 her joy the entrance once more open, and her little one awaiting her 

 with a rosy Apple in its hand. Disregarding the treasures scattered 

 in the cave, the mother rushed with outstretched arms towards her 

 child, and the white maidens finding that the mother's love was 



stronger than her greed handed over the little one to her. There 



is, in this district, another legend anent the gathering of Straw- 

 berries, which will be found under the head of Club Moss. 



SUGAR-CANE.— In the Sugar plantations of the Indies, 

 several superstitious ceremonies are preserved. It being customary 

 to reserve a few plants, it sometimes happens after the fields are 

 planted, that there remain several superfluous canes. Whenever 

 this happens, the husbandman repairs to the spot on the iith of 

 June, and having sacrificed to the Nagbele, the tutelar deity of the 

 Sugar-cane, he immediately kindles a fire, and consumes the whole. 

 If a Sugar-cane should flower again at the end of the season, and 

 produce seeds, it is looked upon as a funereal flower, and as 

 portending misfortune to the owner of the estate or his family. If, 

 therefore, a husbandman sees one of these late-flowering canes, he 

 plucks it up, and buries it without allowing his master to know 

 anything of the unfortunate occurrence, willingly taking to himself 



any ill-luck which may accrue. The bow of Kamadeva, the 



Indian Cupid, is sometimes represented as being formed of Sugar- 

 cane, sometimes of flowers, with a string composed of bees. His 

 five arrows were each tipped with a blossom, presented to Kama- 

 deva by Vasanta (Spring). 



" He bends the luscious cane, and twists the string 



With bees ; how sweet ! but ah ! how keen their sting. 



He, witli five fiow'rets tips thy ruthless darts, 



Which through five senses pierce enraptured hearts ; 



Strong Champa, ricli in odorous gold ; 



Warm Amer, nursed in heavenly mould ; 



Dry Maktser, in silver smiling ; 



Hot Kitticum our sense beguiling ; 



And last, to kindle fierce the scorching flame, 



Love Shaft, which gods bright Bcla name." — Sir IV. Jones. 



SUNFLCWER. — The Helianthus annuns derived its name 

 of Sunflower from its resemblance to the radiant beams of the 

 Sun, and not, as is popularly supposed and celebrated by poets, 

 from its flowers turning to face the Sun — a delusion fostered by 

 Darwin, Moore, and Thompson, the latter of whom tells us that 

 unlike most of the flowery race — 



" The lofty follower of the Sun, 



Sad when he sets, shuts up her yellow leaves, 

 Drooping all night, and, when he warm returns, 

 Points her cnamour'd bosom to his ray." 



The Helianthus has also been falsely identified with the Sunflower 

 of classical story — the flower into which poor Clytie was trans- 



