116 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



figured by Matthioli, Lobel, and Alpinus; and was seen by Forskal, 

 cultivated both in Yemen and Egypt. 



In "A. D. 902," the accession of Moktafi, the seventeenth Abbassid 

 khalif, took place. 



In "A. D. 904" (Marcel), Moktafi sent an army, and recovered 

 Egypt from the descendants of Tooloon. 



The "ball" of Rhazes, Ibn Samhun, Serapion, and Ibn Baitar, may 

 be compared with " bale," the Bombay name (according to Graham) 

 of JEgle marmelos. — The fruit of this tree is used medicinally in 

 Hindostan; and Forskal (Mat. Med.) speaks of the importation of 

 "bel Hendi" fruit into Egypt. 



The "fel" of Rhazes, Avicenna, and Serapion, according to the 

 usage in Yemen and Egypt (as given by Forskal and Delile), would 

 seem to be the Mogorium sambac. — This plant is figured by Parkin- 

 son ; and has become common in the green-houses of Europe and 

 America. 



The yellow and the red " vars," described by Rhazes as " brought 

 from Yemen and collected upon trees like pounded saffron," may be 

 compared with the "hares" of Forskal, Mimosa tortilis. — Forskal 

 is silent respecting any use made of this indigenous plant of Yemen. 



The " isfanaj" of Rhazes, Avicenna, Serapion, Edrisi, and Ibn 

 Baitar, is admitted to be the spinach (Spinacia oleracea) . — This plant 

 is figured by Matthioli ; and its cultivation in Egypt is noticed by 

 Alpinus, Forskal, and others. 



The "ribas" of Rhazes, Mesue (De electuar.), Avicenna, Serapion, 

 Edrisi, and Ibn Baitar, is referred by Royle and others to the Rheum 

 ribes. This is an indigenous plant of the mountains of Syria and 

 Persia. 



The " bahman " of Rhazes, Avicenna, Serapion, and Ibn Baitar, is 

 referred by Sontheimer and others, to the imported roots of Centaurea 

 beheu. — The living plant was seen by Rauwolf in Syria ; and by Sib- 

 thorp in Cyprus : Forskal (Mat. Med.) speaks of the importation into 

 Egypt of " bahman " roots from Greece. 



The "lak" of Rhazes, Mesue (Canon univers.), Avicenna, Ibn El- 

 hozar, and Ibn Baitar, is referred by Greenhill and others to lac (Coc- 

 cus lacca). — This is an insect production, imported from Pegu; and 

 according to Bontius, also found in Java. 



The "mulukhia" of Rhazes, Avicenna, Serapion, Ibn Baitar, and 



