HEEODOTUS AS A BOTAXIST. 79 



leaves have a somewhat more oval shape, and are darker 

 on then- under surface. The seed vessels and roots are 

 almost exactly similar, though the Arabs pretend to make 

 a distinction, and to prefer the blue variety, Avhich they 

 call heshnin a 'rahy, the lotus of Arabs, while they term the 

 white heshnin el khanzi/?', " the lotus of pigs." Both the 

 ordinary lotus and the ccerulea Avere valued on account of 

 their flowers, which were employed at banquets, and woven 

 into garlands for the guests. 



III. — The neliimfnum or nymphcva nehunho^ though not now 

 found in Egypt, nor indeed in Africa, was beyond all doubt 

 ^ denizen of the country in ancient times, though it may not 

 have been indigenous. The Greeks and Romans knew it as 

 the Egyptian bean, and the latter people regarded it as so 

 characteristic of Egypt that they used it constantl}^ where 

 they wanted an Egyptian emblem. It has the general 

 features of the lotus tribe, growing in water, vAt\\ round 

 leaves which float on the top, and having a large conical 

 bud from which bursts a corolla of petals, that curve inwards, 

 and form a sort of cup. The peculiarities of the nelurnbo 

 are the large size of its leaves, and the size and lovely colour 

 of its blossoms. The diameter of the leaf varies from a foot 

 to a foot and a half, the petals are six inches in length, 

 and of a beautiful crimson or rose-purple hue. The}' are 

 arranged in two roAvs, one inner and one outer, Avhile 

 within them at their base is a dense fringe of stamens, 

 surrounding and protecting the OA^ary. Here the fruit forms 

 itself. It consists of a fleshy substance, shaped like the rose 

 of a Avatering-pot, and studded thickly Avith seeds, Avhieh 

 project from the upper surface of the fruit, a circle about 

 three inches in diameter. The number of the seeds is from 

 twenty to thirty. They are about the size of a small acorn, 

 and contain inside their shell a Avhite SAveet-flavoured nut or 

 almond divided into two lobes, betAveen Avhich is a green 

 leaf, or corculuni, Avhicli is bitter, and should be removed 

 before the nut is eaten. This nut, and also the root of the 

 plant, were employed as food by the poorer classes among 

 the ancient Egyptians. 



Instances of my own observation of the representation of the 

 lotus in Egyptian art. — As illustrations of the frequent 

 employment of the lotus blossom in Egyptian art for paint- 

 ing and for sculpture as Avell, the following instances may 

 serve as examples: on the end Avail of the eastern chamber of 

 the small temple of Dayr el Medineh, the loAvest compartment 



