140 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



in gardens at Cochin in Hindostan. Clusius speaks of the nuts being 

 brought from Brazil to Lisbon ; and Rouyer found them imported by 

 the way of Europe into Egypt. 



According to Sprengel, Hieronymus Benzoni (who returned from 

 the West Indies in A. D. 1556) describes "petum," or tobacco (Nico- 

 tiana tabacum). — This species of Nicotiana is figured by Monardes, 

 Lobel, and Camerarius ; and the N. rustica, by Matthioli and Lobel. 

 Lane states, That the use of tobacco was introduced into the East at 

 the close of the Sixteenth Century : and according to Forskal, Delile, 

 and Clot-Bey, both species are cultivated in Egypt. It is worthy of 

 note, that the custom most prominently distinguishing the present from 

 all former ages, was taught by the Aboriginals of America.* 



The tomato of Peru (Solan um lycopersicum) is noticed by Gesner, 

 Anguillara, Lobel, Camerarius, and C. Bauhin. — The plant was seen 

 by Delile in Egypt; where, according to Clot-Bey and Figari, it is now 

 abundantly cultivated. 



According to Sprengel, The morning-glory (Ipomsea nil, also called 

 I. hederacea) is described by Gesner. — The plant is figured by Lobel 

 (Stirp. hist. p. 340) ; and was seen by Forskal in gardens at Cairo. 



The Canna Indica is noticed by Gesner, Lobel, and Camerarius : and 

 was derived, according to C. Bauhin, from seeds brought from the West 

 Indies to Portugal. — The plant was seen by Forskal, Delile, and others, 



from Busbecke at Constantinople ; and was also seen at Constantinople by Forskal and 

 Sibthorp ; but appears to have remained unknown in Greece and Egypt. Bung found it 

 indigenous on the mountains of Northern China. 



According to Clusius and Beckmann, About the middle of the Sixteenth Century, roots 

 of the crown-imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) were brought from Persia to Constantinople, 

 and thence to Vienna; from which city they were distributed over Europe. — The plant 

 is figured by Dodonasus and by Lobel; but I have met with no evidence of its being 

 known in Egypt. 



According to Balbinus and Beckmann, The tulip (Tulipa Gesneriana) was brought 

 from Constantinople, probably by Busbecke, about A. D. 1554. — The plant is a native of 

 the Caucasian countries. It was seen by Rauwolf in gardens upon Lebanon; but I have 

 met with no evidence of its being known in Egypt. 



According to Beckmann, the Canary bird (Fringilla canaria) is first mentioned by 

 Gesner, A. D. 1555 ; and is first figured by Aldrovandus. — The bird is a native of the 

 Canary Islands; and has doubtless been sometimes kept in cages in Egypt; but I have 

 met with no record of the fact. 



* An account of the horse-chestnut (iEsculus hippocastanum) was sent by Quakelbeen 

 at Constantinople to Matthioli, in A. D. 1557. — The tree appears to have remained 

 unknown in Egypt ; and indeed, is not successfully cultivated as far South in the United 

 States. 



