II. 
camorus. 
50 V-OYAGE UP THE NILE, 
CHAP, distance, like enormous peacocks with their tails 
expanded. As we drew near and examined 
them, they proved to be, every one of them, the 
Ficus Sy- Ficus SycamoTUs, or Sycamore Fig ; and of this 
species, although so common in Egypt, there 
was scarcely a single specimen in any British 
herbary, until our return to England. It attains 
an enormous size near Cairo ; particularly in the 
Isle of Rhonda, where some of them appear 
larofer than the stateliest oaks of our forests. 
The fruit resembles the common fig in shape; 
but it is smaller, very dry, insipid, and rarely 
eaten. The peculiar form of the trees in this 
part of Egypt is owing entirely to the north and 
Eieoian Dorth-wcst, or Etesian winds, which prevail with 
much violence, and for a considerable length of 
time, during the months of July and August. As 
this monsoon happens annually, at the period 
of the Nile^ inundation, the wonderful advan- 
tages it offers for the commerce of the country 
exceed any thing, perhaps, known upon earth, 
A vessel, leaving Rosetta, is driven by it with 
extraordinary velocity against the whole force 
of the torrent to Cairo, or into any part of Upper 
Egypt. For the purpose of her return, with 
even greater rapidity, it is only necessary to 
take down mast and sails, and leave her to be 
carried against the wind by the powerful current 
Winds, 
