GRAND CAIRO. 91 
unless the practice really existed. We inquired chap. 
if other animals were thus treated ; and were ■ 
answered in the negative. Mutton is always 
boiled ; and veal is never eaten, in any way\ 
In times of famine alone the inhabitants eat 
boiled blood. 
Among other absurd accusations brought 
against Bruce, a very popular charge at one 
time was, that some of the plants engraved in 
his work never existed in nature, but were the 
offspring of his own fertile imagination. We 
therefore resolved next to exhibit the engra- 
vings to our Abyssinian, and desire him to name 
the plants, and to describe their properties. It 
was impossible that this man should read, and 
much less comprehend, the Abyssinian names 
which Bruce s engraver had inscribed upon the 
margin of those plates. 
The first plates offered to his notice were 
those which represent the Sassa\ He recog- 
nised the plants ; but knew nothing of the name 
Bruce had given to them ; and denied that any 
(4) This agrees with the account published by Lord Valentia, from 
Mr. Salt's Journal. See Valentia's Travels, vol. III. p. 159. Lond. 
1809. 
(5) Bruce'a Travels, Appendix, p. 28. 
