CURIOUS CREATURES. 167 



to ascertain whether any reference to this curious legend 

 existed in the Talmudical books, I sought the assistance 

 of learned members of the Jewish community, and, 

 amongst them, of the Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler, Chief 

 Rabbi Delegate of the United Congregations of the 

 British Empire. He most kindly interested himself in 

 the matter, and wrote to me as follows : 'It affords 

 me much gratification to give you the information you 

 desire on the Borametz. In the Mishna Kilaim, chap, 

 viii. 5 (a portion of the Talmud), the passage occurs : 

 " Creatures called Adne Hasadeh (literally ' lords of the 

 field ') are regarded as beasts." There is a variant 

 reading, Abne Hasadeh (stones of the field). A com- 

 mentator, Rabbi Simeon, of Sens (died about 1235), 

 writes as follows, on this passage : ' It is stated in 

 the Jerusalem Talmud that this is a human being of the 

 mountains : it lives by means of its navel : if its navel 

 be cut, it cannot live. I have heard in the name of 

 Rabbi Meir, the son of Kallonymos of Speyer, that this 

 is the animal called Jeduah. This is thejedoui mentioned 

 in Scripture (lit. wizard, Lev. xix. 31); with its bones 

 witchcraft is practised. A kind of large stem issues 

 from a root in the earth on which this animal, called 

 Jadua, grows, just as gourds and melons. Only the 

 Jadua has, in all respects, a human shape, in face, body, 

 hands, and feet. By its navel it is joined to the stem 

 that issues from the root. No creature can approach 

 within the tether of the stem, for it seizes and kills 

 them. Within the tether of the stem it devours the 

 herbage all around. When they want to capture it, no 

 man dares approach it, but they tear at the stem until 

 it is ruptured, whereupon the animal dies.' Another 

 commentator, Rabbi Obadja, of Berbinoro, gives the 



