affords, or perhaps by the peelings of the paper-reed near at hand, and of which we shall speak hereafter. And yet, according to the scriptural account, it required the application of the asphaltum of the country, or perhaps some well-known slime, to prevent the entrance of the water. A little floating ark could easily be fitted up from these materials, which, on the placid waters of the Nile, would float a long time uninjured and keep its little charge as safe and free from water as the most loving mother could have wished. The ancient Egyptians used the fibre of the plant for cordage; and the probabilities are that the bulrush referred to in Exodus ii. 3 was larger than at present, and that, with a skill peculiarly Egyptian, it was used even in the construction of small ships. Some, however, have with great plausibility thought that plant to be the paper-reed, to which this word here translated "bulrush" refers, and which we have spoken of under the head of Paper-Reed.

The Scripture references to the bulrush only indicate incidental facts. In Isaiah xviii. 2 the reference speaks of the plant as characteristic of that nation "beyond the rivers of Ethiopia," and as used for the construction of their vessels,— probably only those intended for rivers. The bulrushes eleven feet in height, which Hasselquist describes, could easily have been so joined together as to form vessels of considerable size and strength; and probably of such vessels the prophet speaks, as used in his day and in the country referred to.

GRAMINEÆ.

D NE

(Sweet Calamus-Sweet Cane.)

Andropogon. Calamus aromaticus.

NE plant bears the various titles found in Scripture which we have given above. It seems originally to have been brought from India; as the Venetians, who used the variety in their treacle, which became celebrated

for its excellence, never concealed the name of the land whence it was obtained. The merchants repeated the report that it was found about Mount Lebanon; but of this there was no proof, as the fragrant rush found there, called camels' hay, bears little resemblance in character to the calamus, which came from a distant country and was considered equal with the best spices of the Scripture. It was very valuable: hence the reference of the prophet:-"Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money; neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices." The camels' hay or fragrant rush spoken of is thus described by Hasselquist :-"It is a schoenanthus, grows in the deserts of both the Arabias: it is gathered near Limbo, a port in Arabia Petræa, and exported to Egypt. The Venetians buy it in Egypt, as it enters into the composition of Venice treacle. This was undoubtedly one of the aromatic sweet plants which the Queen of Sheba gave to Solomon, being to

this day much esteemed by the Arabians for its 'sweet smell.' They call it Nelsi Meccani and Iddhur Mecchi."

The andropogon, however, answers all the characteristics of the sweet cane or calamus of Scripture. It is fragrant, furnishes an oil suited to the various purposes of the service of the tabernacle, and is brought from a distance. There are, however, several reeds or canes which are fragrant; and the effort to determine the scriptural calamus, or fragrant cane, has caused much discussion and examination; but it is not certain that the description of the true plant has yet been given.

Each of the four references to this calamus or cane in the Scriptures seems to suggest its rarity. Its first mention is in connection with the holy ointment of which it formed an important ingredient; and from Isaiah xliii. 24 it seems that it was not only necessary to purchase the calamus, but that it was expensive. Hence the want of it in the sanctuary-service was suggestive of the covetousness of the people in their offerings; and it was one of the complaints urged by the prophet against Israel, "Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money;" the significancy being that, having lost interest in their personal sacrifices, they had no further regard to the sanctity and holiness of their priests. The ointment so necessary to their acceptance in the ceremonial worship had lost its value with the people. It was either omitted, or no longer prepared with the care and expense of previous times. The references in Scripture, therefore, are to its fragrance and its use in the preparation of the most holy ointment in the temple-service.

DIPTERACEÆ.

LYTHRARIÆ.

THE

Laurus camphora. Linn.

Dryobalanops camphora of Colebrook.
Lausonia inermis, (Henna.)

HE word "camphire" is but another form of the word "camphor" of the present times. But a very general impression prevails among those who have paid attention to the botany of Scripture, that the Hebrew word translated "camphire" refers to the fragrant and beautiful plant called "henna," of which the Hebrew name is capher. Before the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, henna seems to have been used as a dye; for mummies have been found with their nails colored with the juice extracted from its leaves. The plant is only a few feet in height, grows abundantly in Egypt and many other parts of the East, and bears clusters of blossoms and delicate flowers which are exceedingly pleasant in their fragrance; and the ladies often gather the branches to decorate their persons, especially by working them into their hair. The leaves are dried, and, when broken up and formed into a paste, are applied to parts of the hands, feet, and face, so as to color the flesh and nails in accordance with Oriental ideas of beauty. I once obtained permission of a little Egyptian girl to scrape her finger-nails, which had been thus colored, and found that the dye had penetrated beneath the surface, so that a con

siderable portion of the nail was removed before the natural color appeared. But its use is perhaps not altogether the result of caprice; for some writers speak of a quality in the extract which has the effect of restraining perspiration and producing a healthful and comfortable coolness.

Dioscorides speaks of it under the name cupros, or cypros; and Pliny says that the best qualities were brought from Ascalon, in the neighborhood of which, in later times, Clusius found it growing abundantly. Some of the caliphs dyed their beards with henna, following the example of Mohammed. It is quite probable that this henna is the camphire of Solomon's Song.

The gum-camphor is obtained from a large tree, a native of Sumatra and Borneo. The gum is found in quantities, and is supposed to be the residue after the evaporation of an oil frequently found in cavities of the tree. Of the two kinds the names of which are given at the head of this section, the dryobalanops is the more precious, being harder and less volatile; but it seldom reaches Europe, the limited supply being exhausted by the mandarins of Japan and China.

The Scripture references to the camphire are but two; and those are found in the Song of Solomon i. 14, iv. 13, where the far-spreading fragrance of the flower is alluded to, and made typical of the pervading influence of the Church under the title of a bride adorned in her loveliness and attractions and a delight to all around through the fragrance of her character and acts.

The henna is represented in the third plate.