LETTERS; 449 
his from Europe •, it is alfo poffible, that both have 
the fame qualities, though the vines are of different 
origins. 
Smyrna, Sept. 22, 1751; 
I N my laft, of the 13th inftant, I promifed to 
anfwer the queftions, you were pleafed to pro- 
pofe to me, in your letter dated the nth of Dec, 
1750. I fhall now fulfil my duty, having an- 
fwered fome in my preceding letters. 
I had no opportunity of feeing the Gall-nuts of 
the Tamarifk ; I have, however, feen a little 
Aphis , that builds a neft between its leaves, but 
this I cannot take to be a Gall. 
Calaf, is a little Willow, which never grows to a 
large tree ; it has a ftrait trunk, with a fmooth 
oval lancet-fhaped leaf, deeply fawed on the edges. 
No tree in Egypt is more famous amongft the 
inhabitants, on account of the water that is diftilled 
in the fpring from its bloffoms, which is much 
more ufed as a family medicine by the Egyptians, 
than treacle by our peafants. They are fcarcely 
affli<fted_ with any difeafe, but they ufe the water 
of Calaf. There are Apothecaries in Cairo, whofe 
chief, and almoft only employment, is to fell Calaf; 
for thus they likewife call the water. It is cooling, 
promotes perfpiration, and is fomewhat cordial, it 
therefore ferves in the continual fevers, which are 
fo common in Egypt, during the fummer feafons. 
I fuppofe it to approach neared: in quality to the 
waters that are in Europe diftilled from the blof- 
foms of Cherries, Limes, and Acacias. 
I have got enough of the fruit of Bahobab , 
though I could neither fee the plant or flower, as 
it only grows in the remoteft parts of Upper 
Egypt, where it has been introduced from the 
weftern parts of Africa. 
I HERS 
