ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 121 



lilac (Syringa vulgaris.) — Parkinson quotes Alpinus ; but otherwise, 

 I do not find the lilac mentioned as existing in Egypt : indeed, it is 

 not successfully cultivated as far South in the United States. Accord- 

 ing to Matthioli, the plant was brought into Italy from Constantinople. 



In " A. D. 1036," the accession of Mostanser, of the Fatimite Dy- 

 nasty, the fifth sultan of Egypt, took place. Gold coins issued by him, 

 are figured by Marcel, p. 118. 



In " A. D. 1046" (Marcel, p. 106), the mosque of Amru, at Fostat 

 near Cairo, was repaired by the orders of Mostanser. 



In "A. D. 1065" (Marcel), Count Roger of Normandy, engaged 

 in expelling the Muslims from Southern Italy, took advantage of 

 a civil war in Sicily among the Muslim population, and obtained the 

 rule of the island. — Coins issued by the Norman kings of Sicily, 

 bearing bi-lingual inscriptions, Latin and Arabic, are figured by Mar- 

 cel, p. 120. 



The " arjan" of Ibn Redwhan and Ibn Baitar, may be compared 

 with the "arjuna" of Hindostan, Pentaptera arjuna. — This is an indi- 

 genous tree ; but according to Gibson and Graham, the bark is used 

 medicinally, and is sold in the drug shops of India.* 



In "A. D. 1092," the Nilometer at Rhodawas repaired; as appears 

 from Karmatic inscriptions on the building, copied and published 

 by Marcel, p. 116. 



In " A. D. 1094," the accession of Mostaali, of the Fatimite Dynasty, 

 the sixth sultan of Egypt, took place. 



The "aatharilal" of Elzaharawi, Edrisi, and Ibn Baitar, maybe 

 compared with the Torilis anthriscus. — This plant was seen by Sib- 

 thorp in Greece ; and by Forskal and Delile, growing spontaneously 

 at Rosetta and Cairo. 



In "A. D. 1099" (Marcel), the Crusaders entered Palestine, and 

 obtained possession of Jerusalem ; where they established themselves. 



In "A. D. 1101," the accession of El-Amr, of the Fatimite Dynasty, 

 the seventh sultan of Egypt, took place. A coin issued by him at 

 Alexandria, is figured by Marcel, p. 126. 



According to Klaproth, the mariners compass was brought by the 

 Arabs from China, "about A. D. 1117." 



* According, to Pereira, the foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is mentioned in a Saxon 

 Glossary of iElfric, and in a Greek Translation of Apuleius. — This species of Digitalis 

 was not seen by Sibthorp in Greece; and I have met with no evidence that it is 

 known in Egypt. 



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