2 24 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



arable. Indeed, although the acacia thrives in 

 the more northern parts of Egj'pt, yet it produces 

 no gum ; in Thebais^ on the contrary, where 

 the temperature of the air is scorching, I have 

 seen it entirely covered with hard and coagulated 

 tears of this mucilaginous juice. 



In more skilful hands than those of the Egyp- 

 tian husbandmen, the acacia might become a 

 powerful mean of restoring to cultivation tlie 

 lands of Upper Egypt, which sterility has taken 

 possession of, and the soil of which, fit for culti- 

 vation, is covered over with vast layers of intrud- 

 ing sand. However dry or clayey the ground 

 concealed by the sand may be, yet the gum-tree 

 may be planted and brought forward there, pro- 

 vided the roots fasten in a bed of vegetable earth ; 

 the sandy layer which might surround the bottom 

 of the trunk would not injure its growth. Fo- 

 rests of the acacia-tree would soon bring back ve- 

 getation and inhabitants to a soil which different 

 circumstances seem to have condemned for ever to 

 a barren depopulation ; and during the period till 

 cultivation shall again flourish, the gum arable 

 would produce so advantageous a revenue, as to 

 leave no room to regret the expense of such a 

 plantation ; besides, the excellent wood which it 

 might supply, would be no small indemnification 

 in a country where wood is so very scarce. 



At 



