276 Linnean Society. [Jan. 17? 



from all diseases of the eyes. I have not been able to ascertain 

 whether the seed-vessels purify the blood or act as a purgative. 

 Peganum Harmala ranges from the north coast of this continent to 

 Fezzan, and is very common ; as is also the Cucurbitacea, known by 

 the name of Colocynth, the fruits of which are eaten by the ostriches. 

 This Cucurbitacea covers the valleys of the Black Mountains ; in the 

 Wadi Cherbi and Wadi Scherzi, the most fertile districts of Fezzan, 

 it is a most troublesome weed. The Tibus are very fond of the 

 seeds ; they roast them in the manner the Germans occasionally do 

 those of the pumpkin, after they have previously been soaked twelve 

 hours in water to deprive them of their bitter taste. The fruit itself 

 is used against urinary complaints and diseases of the sexual organs, 

 which are very common in these parts ; it is placed in a basin of 

 milk, and after remaining in it about twelve hours, the fluid is drank. 

 Ricinus communis is common in the neighbourhood of Tripoli, and 

 the oil of it might become an article of export, if they would only 

 take the trouble of gathering the seeds. I met here, in Fezzan, an 

 old acquaintance, in the shape of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus), 

 which, growing to the height of about 9 feet, is the only ornament 

 of the small cottage gardens ; its seeds are eaten. I was also very 

 glad to find Tulipa sylvestris, a great ornament of the Targona moun- 

 tains. I have been unable to collect more than a single specimen ; 

 for although the plant occurs in the locality mentioned in enormous 

 quantities, I arrived too early (end of March) to see it in flower. In 

 my collection there are specimens of a plant resembling in foliage 

 the thorn, and I have mentioned on the slip of paper accompanying 

 it, that the bark of its root is used by the Arabs for tanning leather 

 and dyeing red. (A small parcel of this drug is for Sir W. Hooker.) 

 I have omitted to add, that the charcoal of this shrub is used in 

 manufacturing gunpowder ; for there are, it must be known, a great 

 many secret powder-mills, especially in Benoulid, which manufac- 

 ture an inferior sort of powder, sold for about two shillings the 

 pound. 



" After this digression I return to the theme I had in view in com- 

 mencing this letter, — to give an account of the useful and cultivated 

 plants of Fezzan. I will begin with the date-palm. All Fezzan and 

 half of Tripolitania live upon it. Here every door, every post is 

 made of date-palm wood ; the ceilings of the rooms are of the stems 

 of that tree, between which are laid the leaves of the palm, instead 

 of the cane used by us. The poorer classes live in huts entirely 

 made of date-palm leaves. Date-palms furnish the most common 

 fuel (the poor people bringing a bundle of it on their backs to this 



