Fig. 86. FRUIT OF TRAPA. 



DRY FRUITS II. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



THE short stumpy pod of the Chick Pea, or Barn's 

 Head Pea (Cicer AHetinum), is another Dry Fruit 

 unfamiliar to most of us. This pulse is commonly 

 grown on the Riviera. In India it is known by the 

 name of " Gram." The crop has a striking appearance, 

 on account of its grey -green colour. It stands about 

 as high as Sainfoin (OncbrycJiis) or Lucern (Medicago 

 sativa). The herbage is sticky, and secretes so strong 

 an acid (oxalic) that the shoes are spoiled by walking 

 through a field of it. 



There is a curious legend attached to the Ram's 

 Head Pea. When Joseph and Mary were fleeing 

 with the infant Christ from the Massacre of the 

 Innocents, and were hard pressed by Herod's soldiers 

 on their way to Egypt, they begged each plant and 

 shrub to hide them. The Chick Pea churlishly 

 refused. Xot only this, but the malignant plant 

 actually produced, by the cracking of its dry pods, 

 a noise which attracted the attention of the pursuers, 

 and well-nigh betrayed the hiding place of the Holy 

 Family. When the soldiers had gone past, and the 

 danger was over, the Virgin, justly incensed, cursed 

 the impious pea plant. 



If the Chick Pea were permitted to speak in its 



