OF ACCOMPANYING ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 497 



Mesnaferrea of Tropical Hindustan. An elegant Clusioid tree called in Sanscrit "canchana" 

 or "champeya" or "cesara" or "nagacesara" (W. Jones), in Bengalee "nagkushur," in Malabar 

 " belutta-champagam '' (Drur.), in the environs of Bombay " nag chumpa" (Graham); and the NAC 

 KA*©ON or NAPKA#60N of Dioscorides, imported from India on account of its fragrance, mixed 

 in perfumes, and employed medicinally, — maybe compared. Eastward, M. ferrea is sacred in Hindu 

 mythology (Mason v. 401), and in the Naishadha poem, Cama is whetting his arrows on an alabaster 

 wheel compared to a "nagacesara" flower (W. Jones as. res. iv. 295) ; the "kesara" is mentioned by 

 Dhanvantari (Susrut. sutr. 37), and Kalidasa kum. iii. 55; and flowers of the "mesua," by Valmiki 

 ramayan. vi. 96 (transl. Gorr.) : M. ferrea was observed by Rheede iii. pi. 53 in Malabar ; by Nimmo, 

 and Graham, in the environs of Bombay, the flowers " regularly picked as they expand for sale in the 

 bazar, and preserve their fragrance even when dried ; " by Burmann, Roxburgh, and Wight, in other 

 parts of Hindustan, the dried flowers "used for perfuming ointment," employed also "medicinally" 

 (Drur.). Farther East, was observed by Wallich in Burmah, by Mason "exotic" there, the dried 

 anthers according to Drury stuffed in pillows ; is described also by Rumphius vii. pi. 2 ; and is known 

 to be much cultivated on Java (Drur.). 



" 64 A. D. = 7U1 year of the ' young-ping ' of Ming-ti " (Chinese chron. table), beginning of the 

 Forty-sixth cycle. 



"The same year" (the Tching-tseu-thong, Khang-pi, and Pauth. 256 and 490), by the emperor 

 Ming-ti, Budhism or the " religion of Fo " introduced from Hindustan into China. — The new religion 

 " was not fully established till A. D. 310" (De Guignes, and Elphinst. ii. 4) ; but at the present day, 

 includes " at least half of the population of China." 



Ptychotis involucraia of Northern Hindustan. An Umbelliferous plant called there "aneeson," 

 in Bengal " chanoo " or " raahooni " (Lindl.), and known from early times : — observed by Royle, used 

 as a substitute for parsley by resident Europeans. 



Ferula hooshee of Eastern Persia. The gum called in Beloochistan "hooshee," long known 

 though not collected,* — according to Mrs. Macneill resembles opoponax and is produced by a plant in 

 size and appearance like F. asafcetida ; is also described as resembling opoponax by Royle ill. p. 231. 

 The plant according to Lindley "has a distinct smell of asafcetida." 



* Polygala crotalarioides of Nepal. Shrubby, decumbent, the stems branching from the base ; and 

 from early times, the root employed by the hill-people to cure snake-bites : — sent by Colvin to Royle 

 him.; but according to Buchanan, Wallich pi. as. rar., and Drury, the plant is "common on the 

 Himalaya." From transported specimens, described by Decandolle prodr. i. 327 (Lindl.). 



Brucea (Nimd) quassioides of Nepal and the Himalayas. A woody Simaruboid plant, its bark 

 exported from early times — and sold in Bengal under the name of " bharangi ; " its root also accord- 

 ing to Royle ill. p. 158 bitter as quassia : described by Buchanan, and Don prodr. 248 (Lindl., and 

 Drur.). 



Xanthoxylum alalum of the mountainous district North of Bengal as far as Nepal. A low tree 

 called in Hindustanee "durmur" (Lindl.), and from early times an aromatic essential oil procured 

 from it by the natives : — observed by Roxburgh, and known to grow " in Rohilcund and Oude " 

 (Drur.). 



Cerasus capricida of Nepal. A species of wild cherry known there from early times from being 

 so poisonous as to kill goats : — described by Don prodr. 239, and Wallich cat. 718 (Lindl.). 



Cucumis Hardwickii of the lower portion of the Himalayas. Climbing, called there " puharee 

 indrayun" hill colocynth (Lindl ), and from early times : — observed by Royle, its fruit two to three 

 inches long and about half as broad, very bitter and in quality similar to colocynth. (See Citrullus 

 pseudo-colocynthis.) 



Luffa? bindaal of Northern Hindustan. A climbing Cucurbitaceous plant, from early times 

 regarded there as a powerful drastic in cases of dropsy : — observed by Roxburgh iii. 717, and Royle, 

 its'" fruit round, echinate with long firm straight ciliate bristles " (Lindl. : see Cucumis ? prophetarum). 



Ptychotis sylvestris of Northern Hindustan. Called there "arub ajwain " (Lindl.), and long 

 known as an Indian carminative : — observed by Royle. 



Carum nigrum of Central Asia. A species of wild caraway, from early times imported into 

 Hindustan as a carminative — and called "zeera seeah : " found by Royle brought "from Kunawur " 



(Lindl.). 



Gentiana kurroo of the Himalaya mountains. Its root from early times in Northern Hindustan 

 used like gentian : — observed by Royle ill. pi. 68 at Mussooree, Simla, and in other parts of the 

 Himalayas (Lindl.). 



Picrorhiza kurroo of the Himalaya mountains. A low Rhinanthaceous perennial, its intensely 

 bitter root from early times used medicinally : —observed by Royle ill. pi. 71, and Wallich cat. 404, at 



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