THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 
71 
and cause injury to the inmates of the house. Jessamine blos- 
some are usually selected by evil spirits who are enamoured of 
women and wish to make known their sentiments. In such cases, 
the flowers will be placed beside the woman, particularly on the 
surface of the water when the woman goes for her morning dip 
in a tank or a bathing ghat. Jessamine flowers are also popularly 
supposed to be the favorite food of a certain fastidious species of 
cobra. There is an amusing belief connected with the Belleric 
^lyrabolam tree, [ Tenninalia Bcllerica) . It is said that if a 
splinter from the wood of this tree should get into one's flesh, 
the quickest and most effective remedy is to go in front of a cot- 
ton tree and complain thus :—Tani uncle, Tani uncle, Clicni uncle 
has deceived me." 
An interesting legend regarding the bael tree is that it sprang 
from the milk of Shree. the goddess of abundance. It is frequent- 
ly alluded to in ancient Sanskrit poems as an emblem of increase 
and fertility. Even more interesting is the belief, still full of vit- 
ality among the Hindus, that in the end of time all Nature will 
perish, except one mystic banyan, at the foot of which the deity 
will be enthroned. Another quaint superstition, brought to this 
country by the Arabs, is prevalent in some parts, to the effect that 
rain could be induced to fall during a period of drought iDy simply 
setting fire to the twigs of the ]\Iadar plant {Calotropis gigan- 
tea), after tying them to the tails of wild bulls. 
It would indeed be surprising were there no superstitions con- 
nected with the sacred basil plant (Ociiuuin sanctum) which is in 
such great demand for Hindu religious rites and ceremonies. The 
plant is sacred to \^ishnu, and is said to have been produced from 
the hair of a nymph beloved by him in his incarnation as Krish- 
nan. Oaths are made on basil leaves steeped in water. The 
leaves are held in the hand and swallowed after the oath has been 
uttered. Indeed, basil is held in the same veneration by the Hin- 
dus as ver\^ain (the common English Verbena) was by the ancient 
Romans and Persians, and subsequently the Druids of the forest 
fanes of old England. Just as vervain was long considered a sure 
protective against witchcraft and the stings of venomous snakes, 
so the holy basil is looked upon by the Hindus as a safeguard 
against evil supernatural influences, the leaves of one variety be- 
