174 



HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. 



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1083. Fruit trees of various species abound In this country Among these we may rerkon the olive tree, 

 fig treea which yield tigs of an exquisite Savour, and the date tree which is to be round every where in 

 the Thebaia ana in the Delta, in the -amis ai veil at in the cultivated districts, requiring little or no cul- 

 ture, and fielding a very Considerable profit, on account of the immense consumption of its fruit. The 

 Species of palm tree that furnishes dates produces also a hark which, together with its leaves and the 

 rind of its fruit, affords filaments from which are manufactured ropes and sails for boats. The leaves are 

 also used fiw making baskets and Other articles The very long rib of the branches is employed, on ac- 

 count of its lightness and solidity, bj the Mamelukes, in their military exercises, as javelins, which they 

 throw at each other from their horses when at full speed. A species of C'ypcrus, which produces a fruit 

 re-embling the earth-nut, but of a much more agreeable flavour, is cultivated in the environs of Kosetta ; 

 and the small tubercles arc sent to Constantinople and other towns of the Levant, where they are much 

 valued. The Egyptians express from them a milky juice, which they deem pectoral and emollient ; and 

 give them to nurses, in order to increase the quantity of their milk. The banana trees, though not na- 

 tives of the soil of Egypt, are nevertheless cultivated in the northern parts of that country. The papaw, 

 or custard-apple tree (Anima), is also transplanted into the gardens of Egypt, and yields a fruit equally 

 gratifying to the taste and smell. In the shade of the orchards are cultivated various plants, the roots of 

 which are refreshed by the water that is conveyed to them by little trenches ; each enclosure having its 

 well or reservoir, from which the water is distributed by a wheel turned 

 by oxen. The mallow (.l/.'ilva rotundifolia) grows here in abundance: it 

 is dressed with meat, and is one of those herbs that are most generally 

 consumed in the kitchens of Lower Egypt. Two other plants used as 

 food, are the garden Jew's mallow, and the esculent //ibiscus. Another 

 tree, which appears to be indigenous in this country, is the " atle," a 

 species of larger tamarisk (Tamarix orientalis Forskahl). The wood of 

 this tree serves for various purposes ; and, among others, for charcoal. It 

 is the only wood that is common in Egypt, either for fuel or for manu- 

 factures. "Fenu-greek is cultivated for fodder, though for this use a plant 

 called barsim is preferred. The plant called " helbe " is cried about for 

 sale, in November, in the streets of the towns: and it is purchased and 

 eaten with incredible avidity, without any kind of seasoning. It is pre- 

 tended that it is an excellent stomachic, a specific against worms and 

 the dysentery, and, in short, a preservative against a great number ot 

 disorders. Lentils form a considerable article of food to the inhabitants 

 of Upper Egypt, who rarely enjoy the luxury of rice The Egyptian 

 onions are remarkably mild, more so than the Spanish, but not so large. 

 They are of the purest white, and the lamina? are of a softer and looser 

 contexture than those of any other species. They deteriorate by trans- 

 plantation ; so that much must depend on the soil and climate. They 

 remain a favourite article of food with all classes ; and it is usual to put 

 a layer or two of them, and of meat, on a spit or skewer, and thus roast 

 them over a charcoal fire. We need not wonder at the desire of the 

 Israelites for the onions of Egypt Leeks are also cultivated and eaten 

 in this country ; and almost all the species of European vegetables 

 abound in the gardens of Rosetta. Millet and Turkey corn, the vine, the henni* or Egyptian privet, and 

 the water-melon are cultivated in Egypt ; and the country furnishes a variety of medicinal plants, as 

 Cdrthamus tinctbrius (Jig. 140.), senna, coloquintida, &c. Of late years the cotton has been grown on 

 an extensive scale under the care of European and American cultivators, and the raw produce in part 

 manufactured by machinery sent from Britain, and in part exported to Europe. 



1084. The live stock of Egyptian agriculture principally consists of the ox, buffalo, 

 horse, ass, mule, and camel. The oxen of Egypt are employed in tillage, and in giving 

 motion to a variety of hydraulic machines ; and as they are harnessed so as to draw from 

 the pitch of the shoulder, their withers are higher than those of our country ; and, indeed, 

 they have naturally some resemblance to the bison (.Bos ferus), or hunched ox. It has 

 been said that the cows of Egypt bring forth two calves at a time ; an instance of fe- 

 cundity which sometimes happens, but is not reckoned very common. Their calves 

 are reared to maturity, veal, which is forbidden by the law of the Mohammedans, and 

 from which the Copts also abstain, not being eaten in Egypt. 



1085. The hu/falo is more abundant than the ox, and is equally domestic. It is 

 easily distinguishable by the constantly uniform colour of the hair, and still more by a 

 remnant of ferocity and intractability of disposition, and a wild lowering aspect, the 

 characteristics of all half-tamed animals. The females are reared for the sake of the 

 milk, and the males to be slaughtered and eaten. The flesh is somewhat red, hard, and 

 dry ; and has also a musky smell, which is rather unpleasant. 



1086. The horses of Egypt rank next to those of the Arabians, and are remarkable for 

 their valuable qualities. Here, as in most countries of the East, they are not castrated 

 either for domestic use or for the cavalry. 



1087. The asses of Egypt have no less a claim to distinction than the horses; and 

 these, as well as those of Arabia, are esteemed for vigour and beauty the finest in 

 the world. They are sometimes sold for a higher price than even the horses, as they 

 are more hardy, less difficult as to the quality and quantity of their food, and therefore 

 preferred in traversing the deserts. The handsomest asses seen at Cairo are brought from 

 Upper Egypt and Nubia. On ascending the Nile, the influence of climate is per- 

 ceptible in these animals, which are most beautiful in the Said, but are in every respect 

 inferior towards the Delta. With the most distinguished race of horses and asses, 

 Egypt possesses also the finest mules ; some of which, at Cairo, exceed in price the most 

 beautiful horses. 



1088. The camel and dromedary, as every body knows, are the beasts of burden in 

 Egypt, and not only answer all the purposes of our waggons and public conveyances, 

 but bear the vehicles ( fig. 141.) in which the females of the higher classes pay their visits 

 on extraordinary occasions. 



