54 



earliest monuments ; but it has now quiLe disappeared from the country, 

 and was in all probability originally introduced from Asia, of which it is 

 a native. 



One of the most important plants of the Ancient Egyptians was the 

 papyrus, which, like the lotus, is seen on the oldest monuments. Frag- 

 ments of the papyrus are found in nearly all the tombs. It was used for 

 many purposes, both ornamental and useful, but principally for paper, 

 which was of the greatest reputation in antiquity. It is worthy of note 

 that this plant, whose culture was anciently so extensive, has now 

 entirely disappeared from Egypt, while in Sicily and Syria, where the 

 plant has undoubtedly been introduced from Egypt, it is perfectly 

 naturalised. Only on the Blue and White Upper Nile is the papyrus 

 found growing wild. 



Amongst the Egyptian plant-relics in the Berlin Museum are the 

 tuberous roots of another Gyperus,G. esculentus, Linn. This plant is 

 still cultivated in modern Egypt; as its fleshy roots contain oil and sugar, 

 and form a well-tasting dish. 



In the Museums of Berlin, Vienna, arid Florence are fruits which 

 have been found entombed, and which have been recognised 

 as those of Cordia Myxa, Linn. It is a middle-sized tree 

 and is a native of Abyssinia, but is still here and there culti- 

 vated in the gardens of Modern Egypt. Also the fruits and leaves of 

 another Abyssinian tree, Mimusops Kummel, Hochst., are represented in 

 the Berlin collection. The fruits are of the form and colour of the hips 

 of the dog-rose ; they and the leaves have been found in some abundance 

 in tombs. The Ancient Egyptians would seem to have used the leaves 

 for making funeral wreaths, as such a one is in the Museum of Leyden, 

 and the leaves of it are folded and strung on very thin strips of palm 

 leaves. This use of the leaves renders it probable that the tree was 

 cultivated, as it is unlikely that they reached Egypt by commercial inter-, 

 course. It is not now found in Egypt, having together with the 

 Papyrus plant and the Nelumbium disappeared in the course of the 

 last centuries, no doubt from the discontinuance of their culture. 



Numerous seeds in the possession of the Berlin Museum have been 

 identified as those of a watermelon, Citruttus vulgaris, Schrad. This 

 discovery is of the greatest importance, as it is now settled that the 

 watermelon is a native of Africa. Not only on the Upper Nile, but also 

 in other parts of West and South Africa has this species been found 

 growing wild. The fruits are much smaller and less juicy than the 



