VVTEX AGNUS C ASTUS. m 



crown above a wall; but it bears signs of having been 

 lashed by the winds. Oleander shrubs and Vitex bushes 

 line the banks of the streams. With the lovely blossoms 

 of the Oleander Greek countr\- women adorned, and still 

 adorn themselves today. In Germany- Oleander leaves 

 are used to decorate dishes, although, as a matter of 

 tact, the milkA' ]uice of this plant is ver^• poisonous. It 

 was said that the narrow leaflets o1 the I //rx Agnus 

 castas (Fig. p. 415) checked sensuality-. Hence its specific 

 name castus — chaste, Athenian women used to strew 

 their couches with Vitex leaves at the time of the Thcs- 

 mophoria, that mj'sterious festival in honour of the 

 goddess Demeter, from which all men were excluded. 

 Vestal virgins carried twigs of \'itex in their hands, and 

 Hera is said to have been born under a \'itex bush. 

 The German name of this plant, "Monks' Pepper", also 

 has reference to the virtues which were ascribed to its 

 spicA' berries in the monasteries, / itcx Agnus casiits 

 appears now to have lost the powers attributed to it in 

 earlier daA's: onh' its fruits are still used as pepper in 

 some places. The Oleander has been applied to a much 

 less romantic purpose, for the peasants in the neighbour- 

 hood of Nice use its powdered bark to dri\'e off rats 

 and mice. 



In the Hotel Continental at St. Tropez we live in 

 the good old style. Excellent wine is supplied for the 

 benefit of ever)' one. Before helping ourselves we ask 

 our neighbour if we maA' not pour some out for him, 

 and the waiters would be greatl)- surprised if asked 

 for a wine card. Salami, olives, sardines and other 



