4*6 LETTERS. 
Alexandria, May 18, 1750. 
I HAVE now the honour to write to you, from a 
different part of the world, than I have hither- 
to done. I came hither the 1 3th of this month, 
after I had tarried in Natolia above five months. 
In the few days I have been in Egypt, even in 
the moft barren places that I have feen, I find 
that this fine country can afford an infinity of 
curious fubjedts in Natural Hiltory, to employ 
my time in the three feveral kingdoms of Nature. 
The four days I have looked round me, give me 
reafon to hope much. 
The firft thing 1 did after my arrival was, 
to fee the Date-tree, the ornament and a great part 
of the riches of this country. It had already 
bloffomed, but 1 had, neverthelefs, the pleafure 
of feeing how the Arabs aflift its fecundation, and 
by that means fecure to themfelves a plentiful har- 
veft of a vegetable, which was fo important to them, 
and known to them, many centuries before any 
Botanift dreamed of the difference of fexes in ve- 
getables. The Gardener informed me of this, 
before I had time to enquire, and would fhew me, 
as a very curious thing, the male and female of 
the Date or Palm-trees ; nor could he conceive 
how I, a Frank, lately arrived, could know it be- 
fore •, for, fays he, all who have yet come from 
Europe to fee this country, have regarded his re- 
lation either as a fable or a miracle. The Arab, 
feeing me inclined to be further informed, ac- 
companied me and my French interpreter to a 
Palm-tree, which was very full of young fruit, 
and had by him been wedded or fecundated with 
the male, when both were in bloffom. This the 
Arabs do in the following manner : when the fp&“ 
