* Some have supposed these two to be of the genus Lathyrus: I think erroneously.

Remarks.

"These two have spreading and numerous roots; but no leaf, nor any thing above the ground.' Plin.

Lettuce?

"Leaves like a crocus." Plin.

Dioscorides describes its flower with a white circuit and yellow within.

"Used in Egypt for chaplets: the leaves like ivy: of two kinds; one has red berries (in a sort of bladder) full of grains, and is called Halicacabus, or Callion, and, in Italy, Vesicaria: the third kind is very poisonous." Nightshade.

"Eaten at Alexandria." Plin.

"Flowers all the winter and spring, till the summer." Plin. Dandelion. "The Egyptians grow the Acinos for making chaplets and for food.

It appears the same as the Ocimum, but its leaves and stalks are more hirsute." Plin.

"Never flowers." Plin. Some editions of Pliny make this and the Acinos the same; but they are generally believed to be different. Supposed to be the Carthamus. "Unknown in Italy. Oil extracted from the seeds, and of great value. Two kinds; the wild and the cultivated; and two species of the former. Remedy against the poison of scorpions and other reptiles." Plin. It is supposed that the Cnicus and Atractylis are not the same plant.

"Grows about the Nile in marshes, and is eaten. Leaf like the elm." Plin.

"Eaten by other people, as by the Egyptians.

"Grows on walls and

tiles of houses."

Plin.

"Sieves made of it in Egypt." Plin.

The trees of ancient Egypt have been already mentioned. I shall therefore only add, in confirmation of their having been known in the early times of the Pharaohs, that the paintings of the tombs represent the date, dôm, sycomore, pomegranate ‡, persea, tamarisk §, and Periploca Secamone:

* In the same chapter Pliny says ebony is not produced in Egypt.
† Vol. II p. 181. et seq., and III. 168.

Conf. Numb. xx. 5. " of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates."
Vide infrà on the sacred plants in Chap. XIV.

Remarks.

"With a bulbous root." Plin.

"A triangular rush." Plin.

"Gods crowned with it; a custom particularly observed by Ptolemy, King of Egypt." Plin.

"Grown in gardens in Egypt, for making chaplets." Plin.

Coming from the garden lotos, from whose seed, like millet, the Egyptian bakers make bread." Plin.

::

("Rhus leaves like myrtle, used for dressing skins." Though Pliny does not mention it as an Egyptian plant, it is indigenous in the desert, and the leaves and wood are used by the Arabs for tanning.) Mostly produced in Egypt." Plin.

"About Elephantina." Plin.

Only in Egypt, during the inundation of the Nile." Plin.

"Homer attributes the glory of herbs to Egypt. He mentions many given to Helen by the wife of the Egyptian King, particularly the Nepenthes, which caused oblivion of sorrow."

Plin.

"The best at Taposiris in Egypt: a bunch of it carried at the fête of Isis.” Plin.

"The Egyptians believe, that if, on the 27th day of Thiatis (Thoth), which answers nearly to our August, any one anoints himself with its juice before he speaks in the morning, he will be free from weakness of the eyes all that year." Plin.

and the fruit, seeds, or leaves of the nebķ*, vine, fig, olive, Mokhayt +, Kharoob or locust tree ‡, palma Christi or cici §, Sont or acanthus ||, bay, and Egleeg or balanites ¶, have been found in the

* Rhamnus Nabeca, Forsk.

+ Cordia Myxa, Linn.

Ceratonia Siliqua, Linn. Pliny calls it Ceraunia siliqua, and says it did not grow in Egypt. xiii. 8.

Ricinus communis, Linn. the castorberry tree.

Mimosa or Acacia Nilotica.

¶ Balanites Ægyptiaca, supposed to be the Persea. Vide p. 61.

tombs of Thebes. * Many seeds and fruits also occur there; as the Areca, Tamarind, Myrobalanus, and others, which are the produce either of India or the interior of Africa; but these are not readily confounded with the actual productions of Egypt. They are, however, highly interesting, as they show the constant intercourse maintained with those distant countries.

The sculptures represent various trees and flowers, some of which may be recognised, while others are less clearly defined, and of these I submit the following to the expert botanist, who may feel disposed to suggest their names, or the family to which they belong.

Little attention is now paid by the inhabitants of Egypt to the cultivation of plants, beyond those used for the purpose of food, or to the growth of trees, excepting the palm, large groves of which are met with in every part of the country; and in

* It is said that the lime and Seville orange have been found, which is singular, as they are supposed to have been first introduced from India by the Arabs.