330 RKT. H. B. TRISTRAM OK CTPERUS PAPTRTTS IN PALESTINE. 



modern ''Papyrus'' is simply a form of the original '' Babeer'' 



\jt^.\ The stems are cut down by the Bedouins for a less 



noble purpose than they served under the fostering care of the 

 Pharaohs, viz. for the thatching of their huts and roofs, and for 



mats ; and the roots are collected for fuel. 



I preserved, unfortunately, but one specimen from the Lake of 

 Galilee; and none from Merom. Since the Papyrus syriacus is well 

 known as growing on the plains of Acre and Sharon, I was assured 

 that this must be the same. Teeling, however, some suspicion on 

 the subject, I forwarded my specimen to Professor C. C. Babington, 

 of Cambridge, who assures me that he has no doubt of its being 



under 



Oyp 



has published an excellent paper on the two plants in the 

 ' Memoires par divers Savants Etrangers,' vol. xii., Institut de Paris, 

 with plates. 



I regret that at the time of my visit the seeds were not ripe, 

 as Prof Babington informs me that no living specimen of the 

 true Cyperus Papyrus exists in our botanical gardens. 



He also adds that it is only known now to grow in marshes of 

 the White Tfile in Nubia, 7° north, but is lost in Egypt, and that 

 my discovery, though simply a corroboration of the statement of 

 Bruce (Travels, vol. vii. p, 115), may be of some interest. 



It appears to me that the discovery of this species so far north 

 as the upper end of the Lake of Galilee is important when viewed 

 in connexion with our discovery of so many African species of fish 

 in that Lake — the more so as the ornithological and mammalian 

 forms which recall the African fauna do not extend so far up the 

 Jordan basin, and it was to the south of the Dead Sea that we 

 obtained most of our African types, as shown by Mr. Lowne m 

 his paper (supra, p. 201) on the flora of the Wady Zuweirah. 



I may add that I have taken measures to secure some of the 

 seed being collected this year for transmission to Dr. Hooker and 

 Prof. Babington. 



