A Collection of Curious Travels and Voyages, Volume 2 · Body of volume 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Some Obſervations made in a Voyage to Aegypt.
By M. Belon.
IN our ſailing between Rhodes and Alexandria, a ſort of Falcon came and ſate two hours upon our Sails. Abundance of Quails flying from the North Southwards, fell into our Ship. We obſerv'd in our ſailing many Pelecans, and ſome unknown Birds.
At Alexandria I obſerv'd them to burn the Kali for Fuel, Wood being ſcarce; they calcine Lime with the Aſhes, then call it Soda, and ſell it to the Venetians, who melt it with a particular Stone brought from Pavia, by the River Teſino, and ſo make their famous Cryſtal Glaſs at Muran; but the French find the Sand brought from Eſtampes to ſerve as well as the Pavian Stone. From this place they ſend their Commodities and Merchandiſe into all parts of the World.
In my paſſage to and from Grand Cairo, and during my abode there, I obſerv'd beſides other things the Animals and Plants.
As the Garaffa or Camelopardalus; the Bubalus of Africk, different from the Buffalo; Flocks of the Oryx, and of Gazells which they ſhoot; the Axis, a moſt beautiful Creature (by the Deſcription it may be the Zebra or Zembra of Africk) great varieties of Monkeys at Caire; the Hippopotamus about the Lakes and Rivers; Goats with very long Ears hanging down almoſt to the Ground; Sheep with great Tails, and vaſt Laps under their Chin; the Ichneumon tame in their Houſes like Cats, this Animal deſtroys Rats and Mice like Weaſils, hunts Serpents which the People eat, deſtroys Chamaelions and other Lizzards, it creeps and darts upon its Prey; 'tis bigger and much ſtronger than a Cat. I obſerv'd at Caire many Civet-Cats.
Two kinds of Camelions frequently ſitting on the Rhamnus, catching of Inſects with their Tongues as they fly by; Crocodiles common in the Lakes and Rivers; the little Lacerta Chalcidica hunts Inſects under the Walls; the Stellio or Swift Lizzard is common about the Pyramids, and the other Sepulchres, where it runs after Flies; the Excrement of this Animal is ſold up and down for an excellent Coſmetick: I ſaw alſo the Serpent call'd Ceraſtes. The great Batts abound in the Caves.
Amongſt the Birds the Oſtrich, whoſe Skins and Feathers are in uſe amongſt the Turks; the Pelecan, with whoſe Bills and Bags the Watermen of the Nile throw the Water out of their Boats; the Vulp-Anſer is common in the watery places. I obſerv'd alſo the Crex, and the Ibis. The Inhabitants never hatch their Eggs under Hens, but all in Ovens or Furnaces.
The common Trees are, the Tamarisk, loaded with Galls or Animal Excreſcencies; the Date-Palm; the Acacia or Gum-Arabick Tree; the Caſſia Solutiva; the Tamarind; the true Sycamore, or Pharaoh's Fig-Tree; the Muſa Arbor, or the Plantane; the Siliqua or Carob; yellow Jaſmine and yellow Roſes; Syringa; Alcanna (a ſort of Liguſtrum) Cotton Trees, &c.
The moſt remarkable Herbs I took notice of were the Papyrus Nilotica (a ſort of Cyperus out of whoſe Threds or Filaments the Ancients made their Paper). The Colocaſia or great Aegyptian Arum, whoſe Root they boyl with moſt of their Meats; The Sugar Cane or Reed, by the Fuel whereof they melt their Metals, Wood being ſcarce in Aegypt; Hyoſcyamus niger, out of whoſe Root they prepare an Oyl for their Lamps and other uſes: A milky Convolvulus on the Walls (perhaps an Apocynum, being podded;) ſeveral Phaſeoli or Kidney-beans; Gourds, Pumpions, Thorn-apples, Coloquintida; many Ocimums or wild Baſils; the Harmala common about Alexandria (a ſort of Rue with great white Flowers) the Abrus, two Senna's, Bammia, Melochia, Stratiotes, &c.
The Eagle-ſtone is found up and down Aegypt in very great plenty.