26 M. Bonastre on some 
ANCIENT PLANTS OF EGYPT. 
A DIssERTATION ON SOME ANCIENT Piants oF Eeyrr. By 
M. Bonastxr, Corresponding Member of the Medico- 
Botanical Society of London. Translated from the French 
by G. G. Siamonp, m.D., Secretary. 
Every thing which tends to recall to our recollection the 
sciences or the arts of ancient Egypt is sure to excite at the ~ 
present day, in the minds of the most enlightened men, the 
highest esteem for its former inhabitants. 
Since the important labours of Dr. Youne upon hierogly- 
phics, and the learned discovery of M. Cuampo.uion the 
younger, upon the interpretation of the hieroglyphic system 
of ancient Egypt, the history of that country daily acquires a 
higher degree of interest. There exists, nevertheless, a branch 
of natural science highly essential, upon which we have but a 
very imperfect idea, and that part is the botany of ancient 
Egypt. ‘The Medico-Botanical Society of London having 
honoured me with the title of corresponding member, I have 
thought it my duty, as an expression of my gratitude, to 
transmit a succinct memoir upon some vegetables found in 
the interior of the coffins of Egyptian mummies of the 
highest antiquity. I accompany this memoir with some 
drawings which have been taken from nature; I also send 
some ancient fruit. 
The first is the fruit of the Mimusops, from pmove and ogic, 
monkey face: Octandria Monogynia: family Saponacee of 
JUssIEU. 
This fruit is often met with in Egyptian tombs, conjointly 
with the fig Sycamore, enclosed in a little basket variously 
coloured. The Mimusops Elengi is a proof of the great vi- 
cissitudes to which Egypt has been exposed; for this vege- 
table has entirely disappeared from the soil. No botanical 
work yet published upon that celebrated country makes 
mention of the Mimusops Elengi; and I have in vain con- 
sulted the Flora of Palestine, by Hasetqutst, that of Egypt 
by Prosper ALPINUs, or that of Arabia by Forskuat, or the 
illustration of the Flora of Egypt by DELILE: none of these 
works indicate that the Elengi now actually exists in Egypt. 
The Mimusops is only found in the island of Amboine, and 
some of the isles of the Indian Ocean. Its flowers exhale a 
most agreeable odour, which gives much pleasure to the 
females of the country, who perfume their apartments 
with it. 
