182 



THE BOOK OF HERBS 



Fox-gloves, being called in Ireland, Fairy-cap, and Wood- 

 sorrel, known in Wales as Fairy-bells. 



Among plants that have magic powers in themselves 

 are two varieties of Pimpinella ; the Anise and the 

 Burnet Saxifrage. The first averts the Evil Eye, and 

 the second is called in Hungary, " Chaba's Salve," 

 because it is said that its virtues were discovered by 

 King Chaba, who after a furious battle cured 15,000 

 of his soldiers with it. In Iroe Grego's book, it is 

 advised that the sword of a magician should be bathed 

 in the blood of a mole, and the juice of Pimpinella. De 

 Gubernatis says that in Germany and in Rome, Endive- 

 seed is sold as a love-philtre, and when wanted for this 

 reason, the plant must be uprooted not with the hand 

 but with a bit of gold, or stag's horn (which symbolise 

 the disk and rays of the sun) on one of the jours des 

 Apotres, June 27th, St Peter's Day, or July 25th, St 

 James' Day. 



The Mustard-tree is called in Sanscrit, the Witch, for 

 when Hindus want to discover a witch, they light lamps 

 during the night, and fill vessels with water,^into which 

 they gently drop Mustard-seed oil, pronouncing the 

 name of every woman in the village. If, during the 

 ceremony, as they pronounce the name of a woman, they 

 notice the shadow of a female in the water, it is a sure 

 sign that such a woman is a witch. Mugwort laid in 

 the soles of the boots, will keep a man from weariness, 

 though he walk forty miles. Wreaths of Camomile 

 flowers hung up in a house on St John's Day will, it 

 is said in Prussia, defend it against thunder, and Wild 

 Thyme and Marjoram laid by milk in a dairy wUl 

 prevent it being "turned" by thunder. The root 

 of Tarragon held between the teeth will cure toothache, 

 and the name Reseda, the family name of Mignonette, 

 is supposed to be derived from the verb " to assuage," 

 1 Folkard. 



