FEXTANDRIA. $7 



which I visited, but is found in greatest plenty on the 

 sandy soil of Kaarta, Ludamar, and the northern parts 

 of Bambarra, where it is one of the most common 

 shrubs of the country. 



" As this shrub is found in Tunis, and also in the 

 Negro kingdoms, and as it furnishes the natives of 

 the latter with a food resembling bread, and also with 

 a sweet liquor which is much relished by them, there 

 can be little doubt of its being the Lotus mentioned 

 by Pliny as the food of the Libyan Lotophagi." 



Among the adventures of Ulysses on his return to 

 his native country, after the siege of Troy, by adverse 

 winds and unmanageable currents, he arrived at an 

 island inhabited by a people called Lotophagi, where 

 he landed to take in water and refresh his crews ; 

 after they were refreshed, he sent three men into the 

 country to learn some particulars concerning the na- 

 tives, and they found them a friendly people, who 

 offered them to taste of the Lotus, of which he who 

 had once tasted, Homer says, had no desire to return, 

 but rather wished to live with them, and renounce all 

 thoughts of home. It would seem, however, that 

 they returned to Ulysses, most probably drunk, for 

 they were refractory, and he was obliged to use force 

 to get them on board : he then confined them, bound, 

 underneath the benches on which the rowers sat, and 

 fearing lest any more of his men should be induced 

 to try the fascinating effects of the Lotus, he imme- 

 diately ordered them all on board and departed. 



