16
NOTES AND QUERIES. tn s. i. JAN. i, 1910.
Topography of Hampstead,' 1818, p. 337)
that he was a journeyman carpenter who
" having the fortune to break his leg
by a fall from some scaffolding, while em-
ployed in the repair of Burlington House,"
received the patronage of the Earl, and
was appointed at first foreman, but
ultimately Comptroller, of the Board of
Works. His pretty book-plate is probably
known to most collectors.
ALECK ABRAHAMS.
COFFEE'S ' LA GBEVE DES FOBGEBONS ' (10 S. xii. 469). In 1887 a prize of three guineas was offered in The Journal of Educa- tion for the best translation of the above poem. The prize was awarded in the number of the Journal for November, 1887, and I was fortunate enough to find myself the prize-winner. Only a small portion, however, of my translation was quoted in the Journal. The version which was printed as a whole was that by the editor himself, Mr. F. Storr, and this is no doubt the " excellent one " to which M. C. D. alludes.
Mr. Storr's translation was subsequently published (I think about 1895) in a work entitled ' Essays, Mock Essays, and Cha- racter Sketches,' reprinted from The Journal of Education, and edited by himself (W. Rice, 86, Fleet Street, or Whittaker & Co., Paternoster Square).
My own version was privately printed, and if M. C. D. would like to have a copy, I shall be happy to post him one for his acceptance on hearing from him.
I may add that a prize was offered in The Practical Teacher (1898 or 1899) for the best translation of the same poem, but I do not know with what result.
C. LAWBENCE FOBD, B.A. 21, Sydney Buildings. Bath.
[MR. ALECK ABRAHAMS also refers to Mr. Storr's version.]
BHANG : CUCA (10 S. xii. 490). Bhang is Indian hemp, the same thing as hashish, a powerful narcotic, of which the extract fluid, solid, or powdered can, I believe, be got of any chemist. But if G. B. wants the Indian preparations as used in the East, that of course is quite another thing, and I cannot say where they can be obtained. I have seen and smoked the powdered bhang or hashish brought from Morocco by tra- velling Moors. The name given to it there is key/, which really means " intoxication."
Cuca or coca is the Peruvian name for a herb known in other South American
languages as cochuco, hayo, and ipado, the
gently excitant effect of which resembles,
that of tea or- coffee. Its reputed ability to
support strength for a considerable time
in the absence of food has made it very
popular as a medicine. Coca wine is sold
by every druggist, and another favourite
form of it is coca chocolate.
JAS. PLATT, Jun.
Bhang, or hashish, consists of the larger leaves of the Indian hemp, and can almost certainly be had of the wholesale druggists. So, of course, can coca leaves, which are imported from Bolivia and Peru. There is. another preparation of Indian hemp, made from the tops of the flowering branches, which is said to be sold in the London
market as
" gaujah."'
guaza.
Its native name
C. C. B.
FLATJBEBT'S ' TENTATION DE ST. ANTOINE '
( 10S. xii. 447). 3. Bibasis. This is described
by Pollux, the Greek lexicographer (iv. 102),.
as a Lacedaemonian dance, competitions in
which were held for boys and girls. They
had to jump and kick themselves behind.
The Spartan woman Lampito in Aristo-
phanes' ' Lysistrata * (82) speaks of taking
this exercise.
5. Blemmyes. This people has been identified with the modern Barabras. Their fabulous appearance is described in Shake- speare :
Men whose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders.
' Othello,' I. iii.
The words are illustrated in Knight's pictorial edition by an engraving taken from Hondius's Latin translation of passages from Raleigh's ' Voyage to Guiana.'
6. Silphium. The juice from the root and stem of this plant, which was highly valued as a drug and condiment, formed the staple trade of Cyrene. The plant, which figured on the coins of that city, was um- belliferous, and has been variously identified. Ancient representations are said to bear a close resemblance to the Narthex asafetida. It has been pointed out that a preparation of asafetida is used as a relish in India at the present day. According to Heinrich Stein (note on Herod., iv. 169), the Cyrenaic plant is now common in a degenerate form, and is called by the Arabs drias.
The fourth -century anonymous Greek Life of Antony may throw light on the ofcher words. EDWABD BENSLY.
University College, Aberystwyth.
