BOTANY. 407 



the highest era of Saracen learning, to administer pre- 

 cious stones in the way of medicine, as remedies for cer- 

 tain diseases ; but their miraculous properties have been 

 long since exploded. It is now generally admitted, as 

 has been already observed, that the greater part of the 

 gems, jewels, and precious metals, with which the ancient 

 Hamyarites embellished their cities, temples, and palaces, 

 were obtained from the Indians, Persians, and Romans, 

 in exchange for the spices and perfumes which they im- 

 ported from the Happy Arabia. 



SECTION III. BOTANY. 



Throughout the greater part of Arabia neither the soil 

 nor the climate is favourable to vegetation ; the botany of 

 such a country cannot therefore be either varied or ex- 

 tensive. The heat of the sun is so intense, that the flowers 

 no sooner blow than they are withered ; so that the na- 

 turalist is not only circumscribed as to the number of 

 plants, but limited as to the proper time for observa- 

 tion ; and if he miss the particular moment in examin- 

 ing certain species when they are in bloom, he can have 

 no subsequent opportunity until another season. Be- 

 sides these physical inconveniences there are others aris- 

 ing from the character of the inhabitants. The Arabs, 

 who are an ignorant, jealous, and avaricious people, can- 

 not comprehend how foreigners should be prompted by 

 mere curiosity, or a love of science, to expose themselves 

 to so much danger and fatigue j hence the idea prevalent 

 among them is, that Europeans are attracted by motives 

 of interest and the desire of discovering hidden treasures, 

 either in their mountains or among the ruins of ancient 

 cities. This belief operates strongly against scientific in- 

 vestigations ; as travellers are exposed to the risk of being 

 plundered or murdered, on account of the imaginary wealth 

 which they are supposed to possess. In Yemen there is 

 less of this prejudice, and consequently less interruption, 

 than in other provinces.* 



* Much was anticipated from the talents and attainments of 

 Seetzen, who expected to make several discoveries in the mineral 

 as well as in the animal and vegetable productions of the country; 

 but the hopes of the scientific world were disappointed by his pre- 

 mature death at Akaba (supposed by poison). A short correspon- 

 dence between him and M. de Zach of Saxe Gotha was translated 

 and printed in 1810 by the Palestine Association. 



