368 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



And a species of monkeij, (Cercopithecus) ; doubtless brought down 

 the Nile, either from Abyssinia or from Central Africa. 



The ihis^ is also figured; but without any accompanying evidence, 

 that the bird was kept in captivity. 



The habits of the primitive Egyptians, appear to have been in great 

 part pastoral ; but agricultural operations, are equally represented on 

 the earliest monuments ; together with the following plants : 

 The grape ; and further, the process of making wine. — This art, is 



likewise represented on the Pharaonic monuments. 

 Grain, in standing crops ; with the regular process of reaping. The 

 species, is, perhaps rye; but possibly, wheat, (Triticum hibernurn.) 

 — I would observe, however, that the history of this latter grain, 

 is by no means clear. The cirov of Homer and Herodotus, accord- 

 ing to the use of the term by the Modern Greeks,* is the Wheat. 

 There is yet a third species of grain, which is possibly the one figured; 

 the sjjelt, (Triticum spelta.) — According to the received opinion, the 

 spelt, is the 'far' of the Romans; and the Latin word, may proba- 

 bly be identified with the •jrupoc: of Homer, and the ' var' of Genesis. 

 Herodotus states, that the presents sent by the Hyperboreans to 

 Delos, were wrapped in the straw of the cupos. — Belon, among other 

 modern writers, speaks of seeing the spelt in Egypt. 

 The paper-reed, (Papyrus) ; and also, the process of writing ; together 

 with rolls, or books. This point, moreover, is in accordance with 

 Manetho; who expressly mentions books that were written during 

 this early period. — At the present day, the paper-reed, has nearly, 

 if not altogether, disappeared from Egypt; a circumstance, that 

 may be cited among the proofs of a foreign origin. 

 The writing-pens, were probably made from the true reed, (Arundo 

 donax.) — And likewise, the arrows figured at Beni-Hassan and on 

 the Pharaonic monuments. In the time of Pliny, the reed appears 

 to have been regularly cultivated in Egypt; and its rarity at the 

 present day, may be attributed in part to the change ia the mode 

 of warfare. 



The sacred water-lily, or lotus, (Nympha3a cserulea.) — Figured also, 

 on the subsequent monuments. The flowers indeed, are rarely 



* Wherever, as in this instance, I have referred to the modern Greek usage without 

 specifying the authority, I have been guided by the Lexicon of Zalikoglous. Printed 

 at Venice, a. d. 1815. 



