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Calamus (Traditional name of the sweet)

the traditional name of the sweet flag (acorus calamus), which is no doubt the "calamus aromatic aromaticus" of Roman authors, and probably the sweet CALATRAVA LA VIEGA calamus and sweet cane of Scripture, although it has sometimes been attempted to identify calamus with one of the fragrant grasses which yield the grass-oil of India. The sweet flag, although resembling Iris in habit, belongs to the order Aroideæ, and is widely distributed through the Eastern palæarctic region, and is also indigenous to North America. The root-stock yields an aromatic stimulant and tonic, which has fallen into disuse in regular medicine, but is still of high repute in the East.

It is in fact cultivated in Ceylon and Burma. It is sometimes used to flavor beer, and in the perfuming of tooth powder and snuff; and was masticated to clear the voice and sweeten the breath.

It is also made into confections and used in the preparation of liqueurs in Germany, etc. The plant was formerly used to strew floors instead of rushes, and particularly in cathedrals on festival days. The name calamus is also given to a genus of palms.

CALANUS (kal'a-nus), an Indian philosopher much esteemed by Alexander the Great. At the age of 73 (B. c. 323), being seized with illness at Pasargada, he caused a funeral pile to be erected, which he ascended with a composed countenance, and expired in the flames, saying, that having lost his health and seen Alexander, life had no more charms for him.

CALATAFIMI (kä-lä-tä-fe'mē), a town of Sicily near its W. end, with a ruined Saracenic castle. Near it is the scene of Garibaldi's first victory over the Neapolitans in 1860. Pop. about 11,000.

CALATRAVA LA VIEGA (vyä'gä), 12 miles N. E. of Ciudad Real. a ruined city of Spain, on the Guadiana, al.

Its defense against the Moors, undertaken by Raymond, abbot of Fitero, and Diego Velasquez in 1158, after it had been abandoned by the Templars, is famous on account of its having originated the Order of the Knights of Calatrava, which was instituted at Calatrava in 1158, by King Sancho III. of Castile, and was at several periods associated with the Cistercian monks. Their almost uniform success against the Moors gave rise to rashness, and in 1197 they were defeated and nearly exterminated, the survivors transferring the seat to the castle of Salvatierra. In 1523 the grand-mastership was transferred to the crown by a papal bull, the knights being permitted to marry once by way of compensation for their loss of independence, Since 1808 the body has been continued as an order of merit.

CALCAREOUS