Sepulchres of the Mummies. 
93 
grand children. In many places in the feriptures, 
mention is made of Thorns, but none knows the 
plant meant by that word, it might be worth while 
for writers on the Scripture plants, to think of this 
Reft Harrow ; which not only grows in large quan- 
tities all over Egypt, but even in the bordering 
countries of Afia. In this defart, not far from the 
Water, a Mahometan hermit had his dwelling near a 
tomb erefted over one of his faints. Thefe are very 
common inTurky.but more fo in Egypt. We continued 
°Ur voyage, and failed all the night the fame cOurfe 
We had taken before. I had leifure to defcribe a bird 
tn the voyage, which my Janiflary had {hot in a wood 
°f Acacia, near the fand heath; it is by the Arabs- 
culled Kervan, and highly efteemed, if they get it 
ulive to keep in a cage. It comes into the ordo of 
*lcm, and is of the genus of Corvus, tho’ its 
“eak hath no fette at the bafis. When I came 
home on the 19th, I met with two European tra- 
ilers of condition, who had lately arrived in 
Jgypt; one of them was a Popilb prelate (Defiderio 
ue Cafa Bafciana) who had been this three years 
S u ardian of the Popiih convent in Jerufalem, and 
now on his return to Italy : a man of merit, 
'vho received me with great politenefs. I had ler- 
mrs of recommendation to him from the Dutch 
^°nful Hochpied, and the Jefuits and Francifcans in 
uiyrna: it was therefore a favourable circum- 
ance for me to meet him on his journey. He 
kindly gave me other letters to the perfon 
,, 0 fucceeded him in his office. The other was 
°mmiffary Lauder, a Scotchman. The Emperor 
Germany, as Great Duke of Tufcany, had lent 
ltn to get neceffary intelligence relating to the Le- 
aat uud India, which might contribute to forward 
the 
