ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 105 



first suggested the use of the Christian Era, and set the example in 

 his writings. The practice was gradually adopted by European 

 nations ; but the ancient computation has remained uninterrupted in 

 Egypt. 



In "A. D. 527," the accession of Justinian, the ninth Byzantine em- 

 peror, took place. He built the fortified monastery on Mount Sinai ; 

 and established intercourse with Abyssinia. At this time, corn was 

 carried in Alexandrian ships to Cornwall in Britain, and exchanged 

 for tin (Leontius, Acta Sanct. Jan. xxiii.) 



According to Sharpe, Under Justinian, some traces of a separate 

 Egyptian coinage again make their appearance. The inscriptions are 

 still in Latin ; but the abbreviated name of Alexandria is in Greek 

 letters, and the system of weights is different from that of Constan- 

 tinople. 



The aptttikh of Alexander Trallianus, according to Sibthorp's 

 account of the Greek usage, would seem to be one or more species of 

 Scabiosa. — The Scabiosa prolifera, was seen by Sibthorp in the culti- 

 vated fields of Cyprus ; and was received from Egypt by Willdenow. 



The manufacture of silk was unknown in the Mediterranean coun- 

 tries prior to " A. D. 551 ;" when living silk-worms were brought 

 from Eastern Asia (see Theophanes Byzantius, quoted by Photius, 

 Bibl. cod. 64). 



The silk-worms were of course accompanied by the white mulberry 

 (Morus alba) : a species evidently unknown to Pliny, who enumerates 

 the mulberry among " the berries that in the end turn black." — The 

 white mulberry, has long been an object of cultivation in Egypt. 



An opinion prevailed in ancient times, that Lower Egypt is exempt 

 from earthquakes: but the Earthquake of "August, A. D. 554," is de- 

 scribed by Agathias, as felt by him at Alexandria. — Modern travellers 

 also speak of experiencing earthquakes in Egypt. 



In " A. D. 565," the accession of Justin II., the tenth Byzantine 

 emperor, took place. Among the events of his reign, he entered into 

 an alliance with the " Toyrkoi" or Turks ; now for the first time men- 

 tioned (see Menander Protector, Theophanes Byzantius, and Joannes 

 Epiphaniensis). 



In " A. D. 578," the accession of Tiberius Constantinus, the eleventh 

 Byzantine emperor, took place. 



In "A. D. 582," the accession of Mauricius, the twelfth Byzantine 



