ONION. 31 



bute to the leeks they wore by the order of 

 St. David, to distinguish themselves in the 

 battle. This Welsh patron, who died about 

 the year 544, governed the see of St. David's 

 sixty-five years, having founded several mo- 

 nasteries, and been the spiritual father of 

 many saints, both British and Irish. 



Some authors affirm, that the symbol of the 

 leek, attributed to St. David, originated in 

 the custom of Cymhortha, which is still ob- 

 served among the farmers of the country ; 

 where, in assisting one another in ploughing 

 their land, they bring each their leeks to the 

 common repast. 



Pliny states*, that the best leeks were 

 brought from Egypt, and the next to them 

 from Orthe, a town of Asia Minor, about fif- 

 teen miles from Ephesus, now called Guzel- 

 hizar, a spot made celebrated by the battle 

 which was fought there one hundred and 

 eighty-seven years before the Christian era, 

 between the Romans and Antiochus, King of 

 Syria. Aricia, in Italy, now called Riccia, 

 was also celebrated for leeks in Pliny's time ; 

 for he says, " it is not long since leeks were 

 brought into great notice and esteem through 

 the Emperor Nero, who used to eat them for 



* Book xix. c. 6. 



