124 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



Tropical country. — The JE. sesban was seen under cultivation by Al- 

 pinus, Forskal, and Delile ; and I found it common in the gardens of 

 Lower Egypt. 



In "A. D. 1218" (Munk), the accession of Melek-Kamel, the fifth 

 Ayoubite sultan of Egypt, took place. A gold coin issued at Cairo 

 during his reign, is figured by Marcel, p. 151. 



The Sixth Crusade was directed against Egypt: and in "A. D. 

 1219" (Munk and Marcel), the Crusaders arriving by sea, captured 

 Damietta. Two years later, they advanced as far as the head of 

 the Delta ; but were finally obliged to capitulate, and leave the country. 



The Arab settlers in Spain and Portugal appear to have been ac- 

 quainted with benzoin ; as it is enumerated by Jao de Sousa among 

 the ingredients of the "bachur" ointment. — Amatus Lusitanus speaks 

 of benzoin : Bontius states, that the best is obtained from an arbo- 

 rescent vine growing in Java ; and Forskal (Mat. Med.) mentions the 

 importation into Egypt of gum " benzol" from India. 



In "A. D. 1227" (Desvergers), the death of Djenghiz-Khan took 

 place. The wars of this Tartar chief and his immediate successors, 

 though directed in part against the Arabs, contributed to the extension 

 of Muslim power in the East, especially in Central Asia and towards 

 the borders of China. 



According to F. Adams, grains of paradise (Amomum grana-para- 

 disi), are mentioned by Ibn Baitar. — Franciscus Pedemontium also 

 speaks of "grana paradisi." This spice is a production of Equatorial 

 Africa; and according to Delile, is sold in the drug shops of Cairo. 



The "luffah" of Ibn Baitar, according to Egyptian usage, is the 

 Luffa. The TfTpayytvpev of the Greek version of Rhazes, may also be 

 compared. — The Luffa is a Cucurbitaceous plant, figured by Vesling, 

 and according to Forskal, Delile, and Clot-Bey, cultivated in Egypt 

 for ornament, and for the sponge-like tissue obtained from the fruit. 



The "najm" of Ibn Baitar, according to Forskal's account of the 

 Egyptian usage, is the Agrostis alba. This grass was seen by Sibthorp 

 in Greece ; and by Forskal and Delile, growing spontaneously at Ro- 

 setta and Cairo. 



The "khafur" of Ibn Baitar, according to Forskal's account of the 

 Egyptian usage, is a species of wild oat, Avena fatua. — This grass was 

 seen by Sibthorp in Greece ; and by Forskal and Delile, growing spon- 

 taneously at Cairo. The A. sterilis was also seen by Sibthorp in 

 Greece ; and by Delile, growing spontaneously at Cairo. 



