INTRODUCED PLANTS OF EGYPT. 



373 



gether by sea; and indeed, there are grounds for suspecting, that 

 the latter route, was actually used by the Ptolemies. 



The large tusks, carried by some of the same delegates, are of course, 

 those of the African elephant : and they indicate, the existence of 

 commercial intercourse between India and Equatorial Africa. 



According to published copies, the head and neck of the domestic 

 fowl, is also figured in this Tribute-procession ; brought, however, 

 in the prepared state, as a curiosity. The inference is, that the 

 living bird, was at the time unknown in Egypt: that it inhabited 

 a distant land, even beyond Hindoostan, and perhaps, as the com- 

 panion of man. — This, is the only known representation of the do- 

 mestic fowl on the Egyptian monuments ; and I do not find the bird 

 mentioned in the Old Testament; nor by Homer, Hesiod, Herodo- 

 tus ; nor by any writers prior to Ctesias and Aristophanes. 



I have not found the domestic pigeon, unequivocally represented on 

 the Egyptian monuments; but a figure occurs at Medinet Abou, 

 which, from some attendant circumstances, has been referred to 

 the carrier-pigeon. — Homer and Herodotus, both speak of the com- 

 mon domestic pigeon ; and carrier-pigeons, are expressly mentioned 

 by Anacreon. 



Living plants in pots, (possibly the Crocus,) are carried by the dele- 

 gates of a second foreign nation, in the above-mentioned Tribute- 

 procession. 



With regard to the living exotic tree, carried by a third set of dele- 

 gates; the checkered receptacle, denotes a Nubian or Arabian 

 origin. The same species of tree, is figured on other Pharaonic 

 monuments ; and appears to have been regarded as sacred. — The 

 account of the itz^aia by Theophrastus and Pliny, may be com- 

 pared. Delile, refers the •rfpirea, to the Balanites ; and the place of 

 origin corresponds; for according to Cailliaud, the Balanites, "is 

 found on the shore of the Red Sea, as well as along the Upper 

 Nile from Sennaar to Fazoorlo." 



o 



The sticks of ebony, figured in the same Tribute-procession, were de- 

 rived in all probability, either from India or from Madagascar ; 

 it may be, from Madagascar by the route of the Upper Nile. — 

 This at least, was the probaljle source of the ebony, brought down 

 the Nile in the time of Herodotus. 



Baskets containing indigo, are figured in the same Tribute-proces- 

 sion ; and the manufactured substance, was probably imported by 



94 



