78 



THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XI. 



tombs of Thebes. * Many seeds and fruits also 

 occur there ; as the Areca, Tamarind, Myroba- 

 lanus, and others, which are the produce either 

 of India or the interior of Africa ; but these are 

 not readily confounded with the actual produc- 

 tions of Egypt. They are, how'ever, highly in- 

 teresting, as they show the constant intercourse 

 maintained with those distant countries. 



The sculptures represent various trees and flowers, 

 some of which may be recognised, while others are 

 less clearly defined, and of these I submit the fol- 

 lowing to the expert botanist, who may feel disposed 

 to suggest their names, or the family to which they 

 belong. 



Plants from the sculptures. 

 Fig. 1. to 6. inclusive, from the tomb of Remescs III. 



From T/iebes. 



Little attention is now paid by the inhabitants 

 of Egypt to the cultivation of plants, beyond those 

 used for the purpose of food, or to the growth of 

 trees, excepting the palm, large groves of which 

 are met with in every part of the country ; and in- 



* It is said that the lime and Seville orange have been found, which 

 is sinijular, as they are supposed to have been first introduced from 

 India by the Arabs. 



