14 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



covered at Thebes by Prisse), is described by De Rouge, as having the 

 letters slightly cursive ; thus making some approach to hieratic writing. 



Many of the above tombs, with others at Gizeh not later than the 

 Fifth Dynasty, were pointed out to me by Mr. Bonomi ; and in the 

 original paintings, I met with figures, in color, shape, and relative 

 size, corresponding with the water-melon (Citrullus). — Similar figures 

 occur on monuments of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Dynasties ; 

 and the water-melon, under its current Egyptian name, is mentioned 

 in the Hebrew Scriptures (Numbers xi. 5). 



Also, figures of a long, green, slightly curved fruit, perhaps intended 

 for the hairy cucumber (Cucumis chate). — Similar figures occur on the 

 subsequent monuments. This species of cucumber is cylindrical and 

 devoid of papillse, and if I understood aright, is called "gutteh" in 

 Lower Egypt: it seems therefore to be the "khth" of Exodus ix. 32. 



Figures perhaps intended for the fruit of the pomegranate (Punica 

 granatum) ; being apparently distinct from the small earthen vases of 

 similar shape. — The pomegranate tree, with its fruit, is figured on 

 monuments of the Seventeenth Dynasty (Rosselini II. PL 68); and is 

 mentioned under its current Egyptian name in Numbers xx. 5, 

 Deuteronomy viii. 8, and Solomon's Song iv. 3 ; and under its cur- 

 rent Greek name, by Homer, Odys. vii. 115. 



And in a single instance, figures, possibly intended for the cabbage, 

 but more resembling heads of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus). — The 

 "kinara" of Sophocles, Ptolemy Euergetes, and Athengeus, is consi- 

 dered to be the artichoke ; and this plant is abundantly cultivated in 

 Egypt at the present day. 



The name of King Atai, or Othoes, of the Sixth Dynasty, has been 

 found at Hamamat, on the Kosser road (Lepsius II. PI. 115) ; but 

 apparently, not on a contemporaneous monument. 



The name of King Pepi, or Phiops, of the Sixth Dynasty, has been 

 found at Wadi Maghara, Sauiet el Meitin, Schech Said, Hamamat 

 (Lepsius II. PL 110, 112, 115, and 116), and even as far up the Nile 

 as Napata near in Dongola ; together with the date of the sixteenth 

 year of his reign. 



The name of King Mentuatep, of the Sixth Dynasty, has been found 

 at Hamamat (Lepsius II. 149), and in other localities; together with 

 the date of the second year of his reign. 



Of the domestic animals and plants thus far mentioned, most of 

 them will be found to be of Northern origin. Of the plants, however, 



