INTRODUCED PLANTS OF EGYPT. 



379 



The musJc-meIo?i {Cucumis me\o), is in Egypt called 'kauun.' The 

 ' kikayon' of Jonah, may be compared. As well as, the xixuos of some 

 early Greeks, and the (ftmos of Aristophanes and Theophrastus. 



According to the received opinion, the Nigella sativa, is mentioned in 

 Isaiah xxviii. 25 and 27. — Belon states, that this plant, furnishes 

 the black seeds so generally sprinkled on bread in Egypt. 



The cww2mm (Cuminum cyminum), is mentioned in Isaiah; and by 

 the name still given to the plant in Egypt. The cummin, is also 

 noticed by Aristophanes, Hippocrates, and other Greek writers. 



The Suceda hortensis, is in Egypt called ' mullah.' The ' malluach' 

 of Job XXX. 4, may be compared. And in reference to the asso- 

 ciated plant, it may be observed. That 'rsetsem,' according to Fors- 

 kal, is the Egyptian name of a species of Atriplex. 



With respect to the ' nard' or 'spikenard' of Solomon's Song; the 

 modern Arabic name, seems to indicate the rose. Indeed, the 

 notice of the 'nard' in Mark, is sufficiently descriptive of the 

 essential oil (or attar) of roses. This substance, is perhaps men- 

 tioned by Homer and Pliny ; and Celsus (about a. d. 27), expressly 

 speaks of the distillation of roses. Theophrastus and PUny, both 

 allude to the presence of the rose in Egypt. — The plant, is foreign 

 to the natural vegetation of Egypt ; but is extensively cultivated 

 in that country, for commercial purposes. 



It appears, however, that the vap-Jo? of the modern Greeks, is the 

 lavender., (Lavandula.) I have met with indigenous species of La- 

 vandula, both in Yemen and in Hindoostan. Though, according 

 to Clot-Bey and Figari, the L. stsechas, has been but recently intro- 

 duced into Egypt. 



Two of the ancient Greek writers, lived before the conclusion of 

 the Pharaonic Ages ; Homer, and Hesiod. And accordino^ to astro- 

 nomers, the remark of Hesiod respecting the rising of the Pleiades, 

 involves the date of ' b. c. 958.' 



From the examples already given, it will be perceived, that the 

 Scriptural names of plants, are still in use in Egypt. Further, in 

 many instances, the current Egyptian name furnishes a clue to the 

 plants mentioned by Greek writers : and the correspondence, will 

 even be found closer, the further we recede into antiquity. 

 The rvhite poplar (Populus alba), is in Egypt called ' hour.' The 



a^epwij of Homer and Hesiod, is but the same word softened into the 



Greek idiom : and in later times, we find a dilTerent one substi- 



