CHAP. XIV. 



TAMARISK. 



^263 



In the latter the bird Benno * is seated in its 

 branches, accompanied by the name of Osiris, of 

 whom it was an emblem ; and in the former 

 two priests are represented watering the tree, as 

 it grows beneath a canopy. This confirms in a 

 remarkable manner the account of Plutarch t, 

 who, in describing " the tomb of Osiris at Philge 



No. 465. a. Priests watering the sacred Tamarisk. 



Frot>i the sculptures representing the mysterioits history of Osiris at Fhilce. 



crowned with flowers at the solemnization of his 

 funeral rites by the priests," says, "it is over- 

 shadowed by the branches of a tamarisk tree, whose 

 size exceeds that of an olive." 



Of the lotus I have already spoken t, as also of 

 the papyrus and other plants of the country. § The 

 agrostis, alluded to by Diodorus, was not related 

 to the grass called agrostis by modern botanists, 



* Woodcut, No. 465. Vide sujmi, n.225. ; and Vol. I, (2d Series) 

 p. 34-2. ^ 



t Pint, de Is. s. 21. Vide supra. Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 332. 



X Vide Vol.11, p. 217. 



^ VideYo\. II. p. 183. 219.; Vol. III. p. Gl. 146.; and suivd. Vol. I. 

 (2d Series) p. 60. 411. et seq. Strabo, xvii. p. 566. 



S 4 



