34 2 TRAVELS IN UPP£R 



money. It is necesssay to have a high degree of 

 confidence in these germs, to eat such a quantity 

 of them as the Egyptians do, for they are of a 

 very strong bitter. They likewise burn the seeds, 

 and prepare them in the same manner as coffee, 

 adding to them the juice of lemons. This beve- 

 rage is very pleasant. I will not say so much for 

 a ragout greatly in vogue in the same country, 

 and which is composed of the shoots of the helbe 

 dressed with honey. 



Furthermore, the Egyptians regard this plant 

 as endowed with so many good qualities, that it 

 is in their eyes a real panacea. Prospero Alpini 

 has entered into long details upon its uses in me- 

 dicine *. After so many excellent properties, real 

 or imaginary, it is not surprising that the Egyp- 

 tians should hold fenu- greek in such high esti- 

 mation, that, according to one of their proverbs, 

 Happy are the feet which press the ground on which 

 the helbe grows. 



But independently of these properties, not yet 

 fully demonstrated, the culture of the fenu-greek 

 is worthy of being extended in France. It is an 

 admirable fodder, which preserves the health of 



* See his books respecting the plants of Egypt and the me- 

 dicine of the Egyptians. 



horses, 



