134 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



Arabs. In truth, a few trees scattered up and 

 down, and scarcely vegetating on that sandy dis- 

 trict, are far from being sufficient to veil its ari- 

 dity and ruggedness : several species of salt-wort, 

 acrid and saline plants, whose Arabic name kali 

 has been given to alkaline substances, are nearly 

 the only sort which possess the property of thriv- 

 ing on those coasts, and even there they rather 

 creep than rise. The Alexandrians burn them, 

 and derive from their ashes a fixed salt, which is 

 an object of commerce. 



The verdure, the coolness, and the shade, had 

 attracted to the banks of the canal a multitude of 

 small birds. It was in the month of October : I 

 could distinguish the fig-pecker # , the common 

 lark -j~, and sparrows. Bird-catchers employ them- 

 selves in taking the two first species, and in there- 

 by destroying the only beings which could confer 

 on their habitations some appearance of gaiety. 

 But these birds, the sparrows excepted, were mere- 

 ly birds of passage at Alexandria : they rested 

 themselves from the fatigue of a long voyage near 

 the waters of the canal : these were hastening to 



* Bee figue. Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & pi. enlum. No. 

 668, fig. I. Motacilla ficedula. Lin. 



■}■ L'alouette. Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & pi. enlum. No. 

 363, fig. 1. Alauda afvensis. Lin. 



a state 



