116 THE GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



maticus) is considered to be identical with 

 the calamus of Dioscorides, and also .with 

 the " sweet calamus," which was one of the 

 ingredients in the " holy anointing oil of the 

 sanctuary," Exod. xxx. 23. The same plant 

 is mentioned in Isa. xliii. 24, " Thou hast 

 bought me no sweet cane with money," 

 alluding to its use in the temple service ; 

 and again, in Jer. vi. 20, " To what pur- 

 pose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, 

 and the sweet cane from a far country?" 

 This plant, and another allied species, (An- 

 dropogon Iwarancusa^) cover the extensive 

 arid plains of central India. The oil is con- 

 sidered very precious by the natives, who 

 use it as a valuable external remedy ; and an 

 infusion of the plant is considered a powerful 

 medicine in all kinds of fever. The oil is ob- 

 tained by distillation, from the flowering spikes, 

 but at the season and in the places where the 

 plant grows, the jungle fever is so very preva- 

 lent, that the health and lives of those who col- 

 lect it are in great danger, and, in consequence, 

 the oil bears a very high price. The greater 

 part of the oil produced is sent now, as in 

 ancient times, as an article of commerce to 

 Arabia. The oil is so highly fragrant, that 

 insects will not approach it, and the odour of 

 the plant itself is so powerful, that though 

 camels will eat almost any vegetable, yet they 

 will not browse on this. 



The spikenard of the ancients has been con- 

 sidered by some to have been this plant ; the 



