374 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



sea, along the coast of Yemen, from India. — The indigo-plant, does 

 not appear to have been cultivated in Egypt, prior to the time of 

 the Muslims. 



The sycamore fig-tree, is figured on various Pharaonic monuments. 

 Moreover, I have seen a wooden mummy-case of the time of the 

 first king of the Eighteenth Dynasty; and these cases, are usually 

 considered to be made of sycamore-wood. 



However, it has recently been asserted. That the mummy-cases, are 

 made of the wood of the Cordia myxa ; a point, in regard to which, 

 l am unprepared to offer an opinion. — Birdhme, (a substance said 

 to be procured from the Cordia myxa,) is mentioned in the book 

 of Araos. 



Tufts of fern, and a forest of fir-trees (A.bies picea), growing in a 

 foreign country, are figured on the walls of Karnac. The tall flag- 

 staffs, placed on the Pharaonic temples, were doubtless spars (either 

 of fir or pine), imported by sea ; and probably from Syria. 



A red fruit, agreeing in many respects with that of the lote-tree (Zizi- 

 phus lotus), is figured in a tomb at El Kab. — The lote-tree, appears 

 to be mentioned by Theophrastus, under the name, Xwtos ^aXioupos. 

 I frequently observed the Z. lotus planted around the Egyptian 

 villages; the natives persisting in the assertion, that it bears "the 

 finest of all known fruits." 



Branches of myrtle (Myrtus communis), carried by females, are 

 figured on the Pharaonic monuments. — The myrtle, is clearly a 

 Tropical plant, foreign originally to the Mediterranean countries. 

 Indeed, Pliny, speaks of the myrtle as a stranger to Italy; mention- 

 ing, however, that a stock was found growing on the site selected 

 for the foundation of Rome. Theophrastus and Pliny, both speak 

 of the myrtle as existing in Egypt. And it is commonly planted 

 there, in gardens, at the present day. 



From the representations of the practice of anointing, the olive (Olea 

 sativa), appears to have been known in Egypt during the Pha- 

 raonic Ages. I did not, however, meet with figures of the tree or 

 the fruit. — The olive, is mentioned in the Books of Moses, as well 

 as in Judges (ix. 9) ; and under the name still current in Egypt. 

 Homer, too, mentions the olive. And Pliny, speaks of trees grow- 

 ing at Thebes; and quotes Fenestella, as stating; That in the 

 reign of Tarquinius Prisons (b. c. 578), there were " no olives 

 in Italy, Spain, or Africa." 



The year, (Pyrus communis,) seems to be figured in the Pharaonic 



