430 
BEE. 
country. This gentleman informs us, that about 
the end of October, all such inhabitants of the 
Lower Egypt as have hives of bees embark them 
on the Nile, and convey them up the river quite 
into Upper Egypt ; observing to time it so that 
they arrive there just when the inundation is with- 
drawn, the lands have been sown, and the flowers 
begin to bud. The hives thus sent are marked 
and numbered by their respective owners, and 
placed pyramidically in boats prepared for the pur- 
pose. After they have remained some days at their 
furthest station, and are supposed to have gathered 
all the wax and honey they could find in the fields 
within two nr three leagues around; their con- 
ductors convey them in the same boats two or three 
leagues lower down, and there leave the industri- 
ous insects till they have collected all the riches of 
this spot. Thus, the nearer they come to the place 
of their more permanent abode, they find the pro- 
ductions of the earth, and the plants which afford 
them food, forward in proportion. In fine, about 
the beginning of February, after having travelled 
through the whole length of Egypt, gathering all 
the rich produce of the delightful banks of the 
Nile, they arrive at the mouth of that river, to- 
wards the ocean, from whence they set out, and 
from whence they are now returned to their several 
homes ; for care is taken to keep an exact register 
of every district from whence the hives were sent 
in the beginning of the season, of their numbers. 
