348 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



Ocymum. Bundles of this, and of various other odorous Labiate plants, 



are offered for sale in the market at Mocha. 

 Ficus carica, the fig; the dried fruit, imported into Mocha from the 



Persian Gulf 



Ficus religiosa, the pipul tree ; in the Banian garden at Muscat. 

 Cocos 7iucifera, is said to be cultivated "in the Interior country, back 



of Muscat." Some young stocks, were seen at Mocha. 

 Phae7iix dactylifera. The Muscat Dates, are of superior quality ; and 



form an article of export, to the United States ; and also, through 



the Banians, into East Africa. 

 Ryphcene coriacea, the Doum palm; planted in the vicinity of Mocha, 



for the sake of the leaves, which are used for making mats. 

 Pandanus odoratissimus, cultivated in the environs of Mocha, for the 



sake of the odorous flowers, which are regularly sold in the market. 

 Musa sapientum, bananas; common in the market at Mocha; but they 



seemed to be rare at Muscat. 

 Allium cepa, onions, common in the market at Mocha ; and I saw 



some under cultivation. 

 Polyanthes tuberosa. The flowers strung together, and also those of 



some allied plants, are sold in the market at Mocha. 

 Sacchariim officinale, sugar-cane, (the stems rather small,) observed in 



the market at Muscat. 

 Hordeum vulgare, barley, (a young crop,) was seen under cultivation 



in the environs of Mocha. 

 Sorghum vulgare, is the principal grain of Southern Arabia ; and the 



stems also, are used extensively for feeding cattle. The plant, 



bears its Indian name, 'juari.' 

 Fleusine Indica, together with 



Pennisetum, and other coarse grasses ; are regularly cultivated at 

 Muscat, for feeding cattle. 



Further details might be given, from a new source of information 

 which now begins to be available; from the direct evidence of an- 

 cient writings and monuments. But I shall remark only, that the 

 Himyaritic relics discovered in Yemen, contain representations of the 

 camel, and of a tame bird (possibly intended for the pigeon); and that 

 the mere presence of figures of living objects, indicates a date ante- 

 rior to the Muslim conversion. 



