very relieving in what is commonly known as cold in the head, the action being homœopathic in this case, as such discomforts are Saturnine and the employment of jet is the employment of a saturnine substance for the removing of a saturnine affliction. The use of jet for rosaries is noted by Cardan: it cooled the passions and protected the wearer against evil influences. Its fumes were considered potent in female disorders. Boetius says that it protected the wearer against nightmares and night terrors. Mr. King mentions the discovery of a number of jet ornaments at Cologne in 1846 which were believed to have belonged to the ancient priestesses of Cybele or Rhea, the goddess of the mountain-forests and caves of the earth. Her worship was wild and weird, her votaries with torches ablaze rushing through the trees in the darkness of the night, fighting and wounding each other to the accompaniment of the screeching of the pipes, the clashing of cymbals and the mad uproar of drunken song. Cybele was associated as a mountain goddess with the forest-god Pan, the goat-god, who is identified with the Zodiacal Capricornus, and jet was used in her worship. It was regarded as a banisher of melancholia and a protective badge for travellers. To dream of it was said to signify sadness. In the form of a shield against the bites of serpents it was advised that powdered jet be taken and mixed with the marrow of a stag. To many writers this has seemed ridiculous but beneath the surface the true meaning may be detected. Astrologically jet is under the zodiacal Capricorn and the planet Saturn, the stag is under Gemini and the planet Mercury, the marrow of the stag is ruled by Venus and in this case signifies the essence supreme, the serpent is under the planet Mars. Interpreted, this symbolic passage would read: Use wisdom and caution (Jet) knowledge (stag) and love (marrow) then wilt thou overcome, subdue and defeat the lower self (serpent) and the sting of sin. Crypts of this kind were very frequently employed by Hermetic brotherhoods for conveying their teachings to each other. The use of parables, secret signs, tokens and symbols was the real method of conveying truths employed by the ancient masters. By this means concentration was impelled and the soul prepared to receive great truths. KAURI GUM “_As some tall Kauri soars in lonely pride._” RENWICK.