
OF BIRDS. “97 
Thefe birds being treated with fo much regard, 
were no longer afraid of men, but came into the 
towns, walking about in the ftreets. They were in 
great numbers in Alexandria; they confumed 
many things which were difagreeable, and fome- 
times were troublefome in ftealing provifions that 
were intended to be faved. 
They build their nefts in palm-trees, among the 
thickeft leaves, to guard them from cats, who are 
their createft enemies. “They lay four eggs. 
It is faid that the Ibis, when it is ill, can relieve 
its ftomtach by falt water, which it throws in be- 
hind with its bill; and that men have Jearnt from 
the Ibis a like method of curing themfelves, when 
they have fuch complaints. 
Mahomet, who firft taught the Mahometan re- 
ligion, is buried at Mecca; the Mahometans g0, 
out of refpect to him, to vifit his tomb, and they 
go in numbers like an army. ‘This travelling 
multitude is called a caravan; they take many, 
camels with them to ride upon, and to carry their 
tents, their water, and their provifion. The Ibis’s 
in great flocks follow thefe caravans to feaft upon 
the fragments of the provifions which they leave 
behind. It is remarkable that they are only feen 
in Arabia at the feafons of the year when the ca- 
ravans are travelling there. 
- ; ‘There 
ee 
