Chap. 51.] PLANTS OF THE INDIAN SEA. 211 



is a palm-tree ^ also in the number of the sea-shrubs. Beyond 

 the columns of Hercules there is a sea-shrub that grows with 

 the leaf of the leek, and others with those of the carrot, 51 and 

 of thyme. Both of these last, when thrown up by the tide, 

 are transformed 52 into pumice. 



CHAP. 50. PLANTS OF THE RED SEA. 



In the East, it is a very remarkable thing, that immediately 

 after leaving Coptos, as we pass through the deserts, we rind 

 nothing whatever growing, with the exception of the thorn that 

 is known as the " thirsty'' 53 thorn ; and this but very rarely. 

 In the Red Sea, however, there are whole forests found grow- 

 ing, among which more particularly there are plants that bear 

 the laurel-berry and the olive ; 54 when it rains also certain 

 fungi make their appearance, which, as soon as they are touched 

 by the rays of the sun, are turned into pumice. 55 The size of the 

 shrubs is three cubits in height ; and they are all filled with 

 sea-dogs, 56 to such a degree, that it is hardly safe to look at 

 them from the ship, for they will frequently seize hold of the 

 very oars. 



CHAP. 51. PLANTS OF THE INDIAN SEA. 



The officers 57 of Alexander who navigated the Indian seas, 

 have left an account of a marine tree, the foliage of which is 

 green while in the water ; but the moment it is taken out, it 



difficult to determine. Professor Pallas speaks of an Alcyonidium ficus, 

 which lives in the Mediterranean and in the ocean, and which resembles a 

 fig, and has no leaves, but its exterior is not red. 



50 Fee queries whether this may not be the Gorgonia palma of Linnaeus, 

 which has received its name from its resemblance to a small palm-tree. 



51 These three, Fee thinks, are madrepores or zoophytes, which it would 

 be vain to attempt to identify. 



52 That is, they dry up to the consistency of pumice. 



53 " Sitiens." Delille considers this as identical with his Acacia seyal, a 

 thorny tree, often to be seen in the deserts of Africa. 



54 Probably zoophytes now unknown. 



55 Fee suggests that he may allude to the Madrepora fungites of Lin- 

 naeus, the Fungus lapideus of Bauhin, These are found in the Red Sea 

 and the Indian Ocean ; hut, of course, the story of their appearance during 

 rain is fabulous. 



66 Sharks ; see B. ix. c. 70. 



57 The companions of Onesicritus and Nearchus. 



