370 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARABIA. 



terranean islands they introduced it among their other im- 

 provements. The experiment succeeded ; and in Sicily the 

 duty imposed on its exportation produced a very large reve- 

 nue to the government. The ancient records of Calabria 

 inform us that seven villages were entirely employed in this 

 commerce. With the Portuguese discoveries the Indian cane 

 travelled to America, v\-here its extensive plantations so low- 

 ered the price of sugar that it became impossible to support a 

 competition ; in consequence of which its cultivation was 

 gradually abandoned. 



Medicinal Plants. — Vegetables were evidently the first 

 medicines ; and among all primitive nations a traditionary 

 knowledge of their virtues has been preserved. The Arabs 

 used them with a wonderful degree of success, though the 

 greater part of these simple remedies is a mystery to stran- 

 gers. It is unnecessary to describe plants belonging to such 

 well-known genera as Atoc and Euphorbia ; of the latter the 

 species are exceedingly numerous in Arabia. In hot coun- 

 tries infested with venomous animals, the inhabitants learn 

 from experience what plants are salutary to man by operating 

 as counter-poisons ; among the Arabs these from time imme- 

 morial have been held in the greatest esteem. They appear, 

 however, according to Forskal, to be ignorant of the proper- 

 ties of the Ophiorrhiza (serpent-root), which is very common 

 on their hills ; but they highly value the evergreen Aristolo- 

 chia, which they consider, not only as a remedy, but a pre- 

 servative against the bite of serpents. \Mioever drinks a 

 decoction of this herb six weeks successively is fortified, in 

 their opinion, against all future danger from these noxious 

 reptiles. It is not improbable that jugglers, who in the East 

 expose themselves so daringly to be bitten by serpents, have 

 recourse to some such artificial protection. The prickly 

 caper is reckoned an excellent antidote against all kinds of poi- 

 sons. Senna ( Cassia Senna, Linn.) and other sorts oi cassia, 

 are prescribed in various diseases. Cassia fistula, or black 

 cassia, is reckoned by the Arabian physicians the best cure for 

 cholera morbus, and other affections of a similar nature, 

 •which in warm climates are peculiarly dangerous. Though 

 its favourite soil seems to be Upper Egypt, it abounds on the 

 opposite side of the Red Sea. That which we call Senna of 

 Alexandria grows in the territory of Abu-Arish ; the natives 

 sell It at Mecca and Jidda, whence it passes by way of Egypt 



