BOOK XXIV. cii. 163-165 



The ophiusa " he speaks of as growing in Elephan- ophvua. 

 tine, which also belongs to Ethiopia, a plant livid 

 in colour and revolting to look at, to take which in 1 



drink causes such terrible visions of threatening I 



serpents that fear of them causes suicide ; wherefore 

 those guilty of sacrilege are forced to drink it. An 

 antidote is palm wine. 



The thalassaegle ^ we are told is found along the Thaiasmegi 

 river Indus, and is therefore also called potamaugis,'' 

 to drink which causes men to rave, while weird 

 visions beset their minds. 



The theangehs,'' Democritus says, grows on Mount Theangeiis. 

 Lebanon in Syria, on Mount Dicte in Crete, and in I 



Babylon and Susa in Persia ; the Magi take it in 

 drink to gain power to divine. 



The gelotophylUs « grows in Bactria and along the Geiotophyiu 

 Borvsthenes. If this be taken in myrrh and wine 

 all kinds of phantoms beset the mind, causing laughter 

 which persists until the kernels of pine-nuts are taken 

 with pepper and honey in palm wine. 1 



According to the same authority the \ves\ia.tevis f Hestiateri»: 

 is a Persian plant, so named from its promotion of 

 good fellowship, because it makes the company gay ; 

 it is also called protomedia,? from its use to gain the 

 highest position at Court ; casignete,'' because it 

 grows only in company with its own species, and not 

 with any other plants; also dionysonymphas,' because 

 it goes wonderfuUy well with wine. j 



Hehanthes J is the name given to a plant with Heiiamhes. 

 leaves Hke those of the myrtle, growing in the district 

 of Themiscyra and on the mountains along the coasts 

 of CiUcia. A decoction of it in hon's fat, with saifron 

 and palm wine added, is used, he says, as an ointment 



i " Sun flower." 



117 



