18 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



The same variety is figured on monuments of the Nineteenth Dynasty ; 

 but always, I believe, as inhabiting the enemy's country. 



Albino rabbits (Lepus cuniculus), carried in cages, and perhaps re- 

 garded as sacred ; (distinguished by the shorter ears from the hare, 

 which is separately figured in the hunting scenes). — I met with no 

 figures of the rabbit elsewhere on the monuments ; and in the time of 

 Athenoeus (ix. 63), the animal was unknown in Egypt. The rabbit 

 is mentioned by Polybius, Varro, and Poseidonius ; but it seems to 

 belong properly to the West; and according to Leo Africanus, is indi- 

 genous in Mauritania. 



And the cheeta, or hunting leopard (Felis jubata); led by a cord, 

 and doubtless brought from Nubia. — The cheeta is again figured in 

 the tribute-processions of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Dynasties. 



As to the stag (Cervus elaphus) figured in the hunting scenes ; 

 some of these may include the game of Northern climates; but Wil- 

 kinson was assured, that stags are sometimes seen in the vicinity of 

 the Natron Lakes (Anc. Egypt. III. p. 23). The tiger (Lepsius, II. 

 PI. 131), was probably from the shores of the Caspian. 



The Nubian clubs figured at Benihassan (Champollion, PI. 395), 

 were probably made of the material employed at the present day; 

 said by my Dongola attendant to be " selem " wood. From Forskal's 

 account of the Yemen usage, the "selem" would appear to be a species 

 of Acacia, and perhaps the A. Nilotica. 



An Acacia tree is separately figured at Benihassan (Champollion, 

 PL 353), probably the last named A. Nilotica, planted for the use of 

 its timber in constructing river-barges. This is mentioned by Hero- 

 dotus ; and is practised at the present day. I found the A. Nilotica, 

 the most common tree around villages situated upon the margin of 

 the Desert. 



The Cucurbitaceous plant figured at Benihassan (Champollion, PI. 

 357), growing over a frame, and having oblong fruit and deeply lobed 

 leaves, is perhaps the balsam-apple (Momordica balsamina). — The bal- 

 sam-apple seems to be mentioned by Avicenna and Abd Allatif ; and 

 was seen by Forskal and Delile in gardens at Cairo. 



The name of Sesurtesen III., the fifth king of the Twelfth Dynasty, 

 has been found in the sanctuary of the temple at Semneh, above the 

 Second Cataract ; also, in other parts of Nubia, and on the Kosser 

 road ; together with the date of the sixth year of his reign. The 

 adobe pyramid at Daschur, appears to be his tomb. 



