30 TRAVELS IN UPPER. 



the western, on the contrary, presented to the view- 

 fields adorned with cuhivation and fertility. I ob- 

 served there several large tracks of ground planted 

 with the cartharnus *, which the Arabs call asfour. 

 Its seeds, which are described sometimes by Euro- 

 peans under the name oi parrots seeds ^ because they 

 are the favourite food of birds of that species, arc 

 known in Egypt by the name of cariom, from 

 whence we have derived that of cariJiamus. Under 

 a shell which is hard, thick, and of a glittering 

 white, these seeds possessing nearly the form of a 

 quince, contain an oily almond of a sharp and 

 bitter flavour. Tiie Egyptians extract an oil from 

 this fit for burning. With the husks they make a 

 paste, of the colour of chocolate, but without 

 having the taste of it. 



But the most useful part of the plant, and which 

 is indeed an indispensable requisite in the dying of 

 cloths, is the flower. Its colour is a beautiful saf- 

 fron red, but it has a very strong and disagreeable 

 smell. When dried it is transported into Europe. 

 It is called, in the commerce of the Levant, by the 

 name of safranum. 



The culture of the carthamus is one of the most 

 productive carried on in Egypt ; it there occupies 

 entire plains, and the safranum is exported in large 



* Carthamui tiiictorius, Lin. 



quantities, 



