The author of the present article, in his Essay on the Antiquity of Ifina'oo Medicine, p. 33, re marks, With this (that is, the true Spikenard or NARD) has often been confounded another far famed aromatic of Eastern climes, that is, the true calamus aromatkus, KdXapos itpeonarucbs of Dios corides, said by him to grow in India. This he describes immediately after axaoas, translated juncus odor-alms, a produce of Africa and Arabia, and generally acknowledged by botanists to be the andropogon schcenanthus, or lemon-grass, a native both of Arabia and India, perhaps also of Africa. The calamees aromaticus, immediately following this, stated to be also a native of India, and among other uses being mixed with ointments on account of its odour, appears to me to have been a plant allied to the former. There is no plant which MO] e closely coincides with every thing that is required— that is, correspondence in description, analogy to aXoivos, the possession of remarkable fragrance and stimulant properties, being costly, and the produce of a far country—than the plant which yields the fragrant grass-oil of Namur (Calcutta Ty-ans., vol. i. p. 367). This oil has been already described by Mr. Hatchett (On the Spikenard of the Ancients), who refers it to andropogon Iwarancusa. lt is derived, however, as appears by specimens in my possession, from a different plant ; to which, be lieving it to be a new species, I have given the name of ana'ropogoz (alarm's aromatirus' (p. 34). This species is found in Central India, extends north as far as Delhi, and south to between the Godavery and Nagpore, where, according to Dr. Malcolmson, it is called spear-grass. The speci mens which Mr. H. obtained from Mr. Swinton, I have had an opportunity of examining : thcy are identical with my own from the same part of India' (Royle, Illust. Himal. Bat., p. 4.25)• As this plant is a true grass, it has neuessarily reed-like stems (the cruptryta of Dioscorides). They are remarkable for their agreeable odour : so are the leaves when bruised, and also the delightfully fragrant oil distilled from them. Hence it appears more fully entitled to the commendations which the calamus aromaticus or sweet-cane has received, than any other plant that has been described, even the attar of roses hardly excepted. That a grass
similar to the fragrant andropogon, or at least one growing in the same kind of soil and climate, was employed by the ancients, we have evidence in the fact of the Phoenicians who accompanied Alexander in his march across the arid country of Gedrosia having recognised and loaded their cattle with it, as one of the perfumes of commerce. It is in a similar country, that is, the arid plains of Central India, that the above andropogon calamus aromati MS is found, and where the fragrant essential oil is distilled from its leaves, culms, and roots (Essay on Hindoo Medicine, p. 142).
If we compare the foregoing statement with the different passages of Scripture, we shall find that this fragrant grass answers to all that is required. Thus, in Exod. xxx. 23, the fragrant reed, along with the principal spices, such as myrrh, sweet cinnamon, and cassia, is directed to be made into an oil of holy ointment. So the calamus aromati cus may be found mentioned as an ingredient in numerous fragrant oils and ointments, from the time of Theophrastus to that of the Arabs. Its essential oil is now sold in the shops, but under the erroneous name of oil of spikenard, which is a very different substance. [NARD.] In Cant. iv. 14 it is mentioned along with spikenard, saffron, cinna mon, trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes. Again its value is indicated in Is. (xliii. 24), thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money ;' and that it was obtained from a distant land is indi cated in Jer. vi. 20, • to what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country ?' —while the route of the com merce is pointed out in Ezek. xxvii. 19, Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs : bright iron, cassia, and calamus were in thy market.' To the Scripture notices, then, as well as to the description of Dioscorides, the tall grass which yields the fragrant grass-oil of Central India answers in every respect : the author of this article conse quently named and figured it as the 'Candi bosem m his Illustr. of Himal. Botany, p. 425, t. 97.— J. F. R.