ON INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 135 



nardes and Lobel ; is figured by Rheede and Rumphius, as cultivated 

 in Hindostan and Amboyna; was seen by Hasselquist in Palestine; 

 and according to Clot-Bey and Figari, has been recently introduced 

 into Egypt. 



According to Gomara, Columbus procured from the aboriginals of 

 the West Indies " axies, especia que les quemo la lengua," or capsicum 

 (the fruit of Capsicum annuum). — This plant is noticed by Tragus, 

 Cordus, Fuchsius, Matthioli and Lobel; is figured by Rheede, as culti- 

 vated in Hindostan; and was seen by Hasselquist at Jerusalem. The 

 C. frutescens (regarded by Graham as only a variety) was seen in 

 Egypt by Forskal and Delile, and again by Forskal in Yemen. 



According to Gomara, Columbus procured from the aboriginals of 

 the West Indies " gallipauos que son mejores que pauos y gallinas," or 

 the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallipavo). — Oviedo distinctly describes 

 the turkey ; but many years appear to have elapsed, before the bird 

 became generally known in Europe. Its introduction into Egypt was 

 subsequent to the visit of Alpinus : but it is now common there, and 

 is sometimes called the " Maltese fowl," a name indicating the route 

 of transmission. 



According to Gomara, Columbus found "maiz," or maize (Zeamays), 

 cultivated by the aboriginals of the West Indies. — Its introduction 

 into Europe appears to have taken place shortly afterwards; for 

 Rhamnusis states, that the plant "was first seen in Italy in his own 

 time." Forskal found the maize cultivated among the mountains of 

 Yemen, and also in Egypt; and Delile's account of the Egyptian name 

 and tradition indicates, that the plant was received from the North 

 by the way of Syria and Turkey. 



The " axes or ajes," found by Columbus (Navig. lxxxix.) cultivated 

 by the aboriginals of the West Indies, is referred by Humboldt and 

 others to the yam (Dioscorea). — From a figure given by Alpinus, the 

 yam appears to have been sometimes planted in Egypt. 



According to Barcia, Columbus on his Second Voyage, met with pine- 

 apples (Bromelia ananas). — This plant is noticed by Monardes iii. 4 ; 

 and is figured by Rheede and Rumphius, as cultivated in Hindostan 

 and Amboyna. Hasselquist speaks of the pineapple having been for- 

 merly planted at Damietta ; and Clot-Bey and Figari mention some 

 recent unsuccessful attempts to re-introduce this fruit into Egypt. 



In " A. D. 1496," the accession of Mohammed Abu-1-Saadat, the 

 thirty-eighth Memluk sultan of Egypt, took place. 



