180 
Pliny's natueal histobt. 
[Book XIII. 
the branches are short and slender. This tree is used in the 
preparation of white skins.^^ The seed, which strongly re- 
sembles a lentil in appearance, turns red with the grape ; it 
is known by the name of *^ros," and forms a necessary in- 
gredient in various medicaments.^* 
CHAP. 14. (7.) THE TEEES OE EGYPT. THE EIG-TEEE OE 
ALEXANDEIA. 
Egypt, too, has many trees which are not to be found else- 
where, and the kind of fig more particularly, which for this 
reason has been called the Egyptian fig.^^ In leaf this tree 
resembles the mulberry- tree, as also in size and general appear- 
ance. It bears fruit, not upon branches, but upon the trunk 
itself : the fig is remarkable for its extreme sweetness, and ! 
has no seeds in it. This tree is also remarkable for its fruit- 
fulness, which, however, can only be ensured by making inci- j 
sions^^ in the fruit with hooks of iron, for otherwise it will j 
not come to maturity. But when this has been done, it may 
be gathered within four days, immediately upon which another 
shoots up in its place. Hence it is that in the year it produces 
seven abundant crops, and throughout all the summer there is 
an abundance of milky juice in the fruit. Even if the inci- 
sions are not made, the fruit will shoot afresh four times 
during the summer, the new fruit supplanting the old, and 
forcing it off before it has ripened. The wood, which is of a 
very peculiar nature, is reckoned among the most useful 
known. When cut down it is immediately plunged inta 
standing water, such being the means employed for drying^^ it. 
At first it sinks to the bottom, after which it begins to float, 
and in a certain length of time the additional moisture sucks 
it dry, which has the effect of penetrating and soaking alP^ 
It is still used by curriers in preparing leather. 
6i See B. xxiv. c. 79. The fruit, which has a pleasant acidity, was 
used for culinary purposes by the ancients, as it is by the Turks at the 
present day. 
65 The Ficus sycaniorus of Linnaeus. It receives its name from being 
a fig-tree that bears a considerable resemblance to the morus," or mul- 
berry-tree. This is not the case. 
This appears to be doubtful, although, as Fee says, the fruit ripens 
but very slowly. 
68 This, Fee says, is a fallacy 
6^ Aliam omneni." This reading seems to be very doubtful,, 
