ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 107 



the living tree, as appears from Belon, Alpinus, Delile, and others, has 

 been repeatedly introduced into Egypt. 



The " zakkoum oil" of the Koran xxxvii. 60, and of Modern Pales- 

 tine, may be compared with the oil obtained from the fruit of the 

 Elceodendron argan. — This is an indigenous tree of Morocco; but 

 there are reasons for supposing, it may also grow in Palestine. 



According to F. Adams, The nutmeg (Myristica moschata), a produc- 

 tion of the Molucca Islands, is mentioned by Ahrun, Isaac Ibn Amran, 

 Ibn Masawia, Miseaben, Albasari, Rhazes, Avicenna, and Serapion. 



Among the articles found in ancient Egyptian tombs, some may 

 have been deposited as far back as the Coptic Period. According to 

 Wilkinson, seeds of the Cyperus esculentus, have been discovered in 

 these tombs. — The plant was seen by Delile, growing spontaneously 

 at Rosetta. 



According to Wilkinson, leaves and fragments of senna, have been 

 found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The species is not given ; but all 

 the senna seen by myself in the warehouses of Mocha and Muscat, 

 belonged to Cassia lanceolata.— The drug senna, is said to be men- 

 tioned by Isaac Ibn Amran, Abix, Serapion Senior, Rhazes, Haly 

 Abbas, and Mesue. The C. lanceolata was seen by Delile, growing on 

 the borders of Nubia. 



According to Champollion-Figeac (Egypte Anc. p. 175), pods of 

 the Acacia heterocarpa have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. — 

 Delile met with pods in the drug shops of Cairo ; and with the living 

 tree, near Kosser in Upper Egypt. 



According to Champollion-Figeac, fruit of the Mimusops elengi has 

 been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. — The tree, according to Graham, 

 is a favourite with the Muslims of India. 



VIII. THE EARLY MUSLIM PERIOD. 



In "A. D. 640" (Marcel), shortly before the death of Heraclius, 

 the Muslims under Amru (the general of Khalif Omar) invaded 

 Egypt and obtained possession of Alexandria. They appear to have 

 been hailed as deliverers of the country from a foreign yoke. 



I have hitherto deferred speaking of a subject, which will be found 

 to throw light on many historical events : viz., the disposal of the 

 collective agricultural produce of Egypt. To go no further back than 



