Z$6 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



the same author would have the oxen of Egypt 

 pass likewise for the best of all. " Their flesh," 

 says he, " is admirable ; it does not yield in qua- 

 " lity to that of the oxen of Hungary, nor to any 

 " other whatever; nay, it has this farther excellence, 

 "that of being extremely nutritious*." This 

 meat, nevertheless, is far from having the flavour 

 of the beef which we eat in France. The asser- 

 tion of Maillet, false in the fact, is likewise so in 

 the principle. In truth, it contradicts a general 

 observation which every traveller has it in his 

 power to ascertain, namely, that the flesh of the 

 animals of very hot regions has neither the succu- 

 lenc j nor the savour of that of animals of the 

 same species, fed in cold or temperate climates. 

 Veal which, with us, furnishes an aliment deli- 

 cate and wholesome, has, in Egypt, flesh flabby, 

 insipid, and consequently not very salubrious. I 

 have made the same remark in the countries of 

 South America adjacent to the line, and in which 

 the calves, killed at the age when ours are sent to 

 the butcher, would not be eatable, from the flab- 

 biness and insipidity of their flesh ; so thai till it 

 has had time to acquire sufficient consistence, they 

 are obliged to let the young animal grow, until, 

 ceasing to be a calf, it would pass every where else 

 for a bullock. Veal is not eaten in Egypt : the 

 laws of the Mahometans prohibit the use of that 



* Id. ibid. 



food j 



