Chapter Camden Society to Canada Balsam of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Camden Society to Canada Balsam

Camden Society for the publication of early historic and literary remains, is named in honour of William Camden, the historian.

Camel The name of Mahomet's favourite camel was Al Kaswa. The mosque at Koba covers the spot where it knelt when Mahomet fled from Mecca. Mahomet considered the kneeling of the camel as a sign sent by God, and remained at Koba in safety for four days. The swiftest of his camels was Al Adha.
   Camel. The prophet Mahomet's camel performed the whole journey from Jerusalem to Mecca in four bounds, for which service he had a place in heaven with Alborak (the prophet's “horse”), Balaam's ass, Tobit's dog, and Ketmir (the dog of the seven sleepers). (Curzon.)
   Camel. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matt. xix. 24). In the Koran we find a similar expression: “The impious shall find the gates of heaven shut; nor shall he enter till a camel shall pass through the eye of a needle.” In the Rabbinical writings we have a slight variety which goes to prove that the word “camel” should not be changed into “cable,” as Theophylact suggests: “Perhaps thou art one of the Pampedithians, who can make an elephant pass through the eye of a needle.” (See Cable.)

“It is as hard to come, as for a camel
To thread the postern of a needle's eye.”
Shakespeare: Richard II., v. 5.

Camellia The technical name of a genus, and the popular name of the species of evergreen shrubs; so named in honour of G. J. Kamel (Latin Camellius), a Spanish Jesuit. Introduced into England in 1739.

Camelot (Somersetshire), where King Arthur held his court. (See Winchester .)

Camelote (2 syl.). Fustian, rubbish, trash. The cloth so called ought to be made of goats' hair, but is a mixture of wool and silk, wool and hair, or wool, silk, and hair, etc. (French, camelot; Arabic, camlat.) (See page 206, Camlet .)

Cameo An anaglyph on a precious stone. The anaglyph is when the figure is raised in relief; an intaglio is when the figure is hollowed out. The word cameo means an onyx, and the most famous cameo in the world is the onyx containing the apotheosis of Augustus. These precious stones have two layers of different colours, one serving for the figure, and the other for the ground.

Cameron Highlanders The 79th Regiment of Infantry, raised by Allan Cameron, of Errock, in 1793. Now called “The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.”

Cameronian Regiment The 26th Infantry, which had its origin in a body of Cameronians (q.v.), in the Revolution of 1688. Now the 1st Battalion of the Scottish Rifles; the 2nd Battalion is the old No. 90.

Cameronians The strictest sect of Scotch Presbyterians, organised in 1680, by Richard Cameron, who was slain in battle at Aird's Moss in 1680. He objected to the alliance of Church and State. In 1876 most of the Cameronians were merged in the Free Church. In history the Cameronians are generally called the Covenanters.

Camilla Virgin queen of the Volscians. Virgil (AEneid, vii. 809) says she was so swift that she could run over a field of corn without bending a single blade, or make her way over the sea without even wetting her feet.

“Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain,
Flies o'er the unbending corn and skims along the main.”
Pope: Essay on Criticism, 372-3.

Camillus five times Dictator of Rome, was falsely accused of embezzlement, and went into voluntary exile; but when the Gauls besieged Rome, he returned and delivered his country.

“Camillus, only vengeful to his foes.”
Thomson: Winter.

Camisard In French history, the Camisards are the Protestant insurgents of the Cevennes, who resisted the violence of the dragonnades, after the revocation of the edict of Nantes. Their leader was Cavalier, afterwards Governor of Jersey.