392 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



genus Vitex, appears to be properly Tropical, and of course, foreign 

 originally to the Mediterranean countries. The V. agnus-castus, 

 is enumerated by Forskal and others, among the garden plants of 

 Egypt. 



The po5cjvia of Theophrastus, is referred by Fee, to the Nerium olean- 

 der : and according to the received opinion, and the modern Greek 

 usage, the po(5G(5K(pv-,) of Dioscorides and Pliny, is the same plant. — 

 The oleander, is enumerated among the garden plants of Egypt; 

 and is said to abound in Syria in a seemingly wild state. The 

 plant, however, does not accord with the natural vegetation of the 

 Mediterranean countries : and I have seen it truly indigenous, on 

 the banks of the Godaveri, in the Dekkan. 



The (xrjXov M7]rj;xov and ns^rfixov, described by Theophrastus as "having 

 thorns, and bearing at all seasons a fruit which is not eaten," seems 

 to correspond with the sweet lemon, (Citrus Medica.) Dioscorides, 

 moreover, expressly states, that the fruit is oblong. — That the sweet 

 lemon, preceded the other species of Citrus in the Mediterranean 

 countries, may even be inferred, from the cultivation of the plant 

 along the Persian Gulf 



According to the received opinion, the xspwvia, mentioned by Theo- 

 phrastus as existing in Egypt, is the caroh tree, (Ceratonia siliqua.) 

 ^ Pliny, states that this tree, is " found in Ionia and Syria, but not in 

 Egypt." — And indeed, it is rare in the latter country at the present 

 day. The Ceratonia, has appeared to me, to be foreign to the 

 natural vegetation of the Mediterranean countries. 



Pepper, (Pi})er nigrum,) is mentioned by Theophrastus, and by 

 Pliny ; the dried berry, being imported from India, or perhaps 

 originally, from the Mahiy countries. — I saw in the Thebaid, a 

 quantity of black pepper, that had been imported by the way of 

 Mecca. 



Cardamum seeds, (Amomum cardamomum,) are mentioned by Theo- 

 phrastus, and by Pliny. — This spice, at the present day, is very 

 generally used in the Arab countries; and I met with a quantity, 

 that had been imported from India by the route of the Thebaid. 



The avi)i^ia-/y'^ of Thcoph rastus, according to the received opinion and 

 the modern Greek usage, is Vae pur slain, (Portulaca oleracea.) This 

 plant, is mentioned also by Pliny. — And is regularly cultivated in 

 Egypt at the present day. The genus Portulaca, has appeared to 

 me to be properly Tropical ; and foreign to the natural vegetation 

 of the Mediterranean countries. 



The " black-fruited ?;pu;)(;uo£;," of Theophrastus, may be compared with 



