Indian Antiquary Vol 14

SR No.: 032506
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 418
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 385

DECEMBER, 1885.]
ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF INDIA.
339
which they brought to market, is very curious, species of laurel (Laurus camphora, Nees.)." and must refer to some castom of an Assamese But this tree is not found in India, and it is tribe, which is still probably capable of eluci- believed that camphor itself was not known to dation. At the present day for instance the the Greeks. Altogether it may be doubted leaves of the (Zingiber? Sp. ?) are used in whether a complete solution of the difficulty Assam to wrap up small parcels as also are can be obtained. It is probable, however, that those of the Sal (Shorea robusta) in the parts Ktësias jumbled together the characteristics of of India where that tree grows. All the some species of Laurus with those of the indications of position point to the mountainous screw pine (Pandanus odoratissimus). regions included in and surrounding Assam as It may be added that in the Chinese work the home of the malabathrum, and there in fact entitled Si-yu-ki which was compiled in the the above-named tree abounds, extending west- year 646 A. D. we find the following as given wards to the Satlaj, and sparingly to the in Dr. Beal's translation (Vol. II. p. 232);Indus; and eastwards to Burma. It is also “The tree from which Kie-pu-lo (karpúra, i.e. found in Queensland, Australia.
camphor) is procured is in tronk like the pine 13. THE KARPION TREE (Kapalov).
but different in leaves, flowers and fruit. When
the tree is first cut down and sappy, it has no Laurus (cinnamomum) Sp. (?) Pandanus
smell; but when the wood gets dry it forms into odoratissimus (?)
beams and splits; then in the middle is the scent, Ktêsias's description of this tree, according in appearance like mica, of the colour of frozen to Photios, ** is as follows:-"But again there snow. This is what is called in Chinese Longare certain trees in India as tall as the cedar nao-hiang, i.e. the Dragon-brain-scent." or the cypress, having leaves like those of the
14. Cassia (Kagoia). date palm, only somewhat broader, but having
Laurus cassia,Roxb., &c. no shoots sprouting from the stems. They produce a flower like the male laurel, but no
The term Cassia appears to have been apfruit. In the Indian language they are called plied to different substances by the ancients, kupovda, i.e. unguent roses. These trees are ten varieties are mentioned in the Periplus. scarco. There oozes from them an oil which They were produced chiefly from different is wiped off from the stem with wool, from
species of Cinnamomum, but other plants which it is afterwards wrung out and received
wholly unallied to the laurel family may, it is into alabaster boxes of stone."
thought by some authors, have contributed The nature of this tree has been much dis- aromatic substances which were included in cussed. In some respects the description suits the same general denomination. As this subthe Pandanus, the flowers of which yield, on
ject has been dealt with by most commentators, distillation, a fragrant oil which is called more need not be said of it here. keorá by the natives, and in these parti
15. INDICUM ("Ivekov peav). culars, especially its palm-like habit, it cor- Indigofera tinctoria, Linn.-Indigo. Nilivi, responds least well with the characteristics
Sansk. Nil, Hin., &c. of the cinnamon. Mr. M'Crindle's argu- Among the exports from the Skythik port of ments in favour of its identification with the Barbarikon, on one of the mouths of the latter are of considerable cogency, though Indus, the above substance is enumerated in certainly not conclusive. He says :-"I have the Periplus, upon which Mr. M'Orindle little doubt that the Sanskrit karpúra, cam. remarks:-"It appears pretty certain that the phor, is substantially the same as the Tamil culture of the indigo plant and the preparaMalayâlim karuppr (oil of cinnamon), and tion of the drug have been practised in India Ktêsias' Kaprov, seeing that it does not seem | from a very remote epoch. It has been questo have any root in Sanskrit, and that cam. tioned, indeed, whether the indicum mentioned phor and cinnamon are nearly related. The by Pliny (xxxv. 6) was indigo, but, as it would camphor of commerce is obtained from a seem, without any good reason. He states
2 Ecloga in Photu, Bibl. lxxii. 28. » According to some authorities this is only
synonym for L. tumala.
31 The Erythran Sea, p. 17.