452 LETTERS. 
gazo, Fucus’s Reeds, Ruihes, &c. He would 
imagine he beheld, fpringing from the bottom of 
the lea. Sycamores, Buckthorn, Acacia, Cafiias, 
Willows, and Tamarifks, which form fmall woods 
or groves, above the furface of the water. This is 
the genuine appearance of Egypt, whilft it is o- 
verflown. Therefore the Egyptian plants, which 
confift chiefly of evergreen trees, are in no want of 
water, and art fupplies thofe which are deprived of 
this benefit of Nature ; for the Egyptians are very 
expert in hydraulics, and take great care to fupply 
their gardens with water. 
From this time, to the beginning of April, ano- 
ther feafon fucceeds, the water is dried away, and 
the whole country is covered with flime or mud, 
depofited by the water, which makes Egypt a fruit- 
country. The hufbandman then fows his corn 
with lefs fweat, and more aflurance of a plentiful 
crop, than the Europeans ; this work is done in the 
months of Odtober and November-, then come 
forth the fpontaneous plants of Egypt, which are 
very few, fome indeed come up with the corn, but 
their feeds muff have been tranfported thither by the 
birds, as they are European. The trees then caff 
their leaves, that is to fay, in the latter end of De- 
cember and beginning of January, having young 
leaves ready, before all the old ones are fallen 
off"-, and, to forward this operation of Nature, few 
of the trees have buds (gemrnse) ; the Sycamore 
and Willows indeed have lbme, but with few and 
quite loofe ftipulae. Nature did not imagine buds 
fo neceffary in the fouthern as in the northern coun- 
tries ; this occafions a great difference between 
them. 
The Plantain and Date tree, the riches and or- 
nament of Egypt, alfo at this time prepare to 
bring 
