Eine aegyptische königstochter. English

  PREFACE TO THE FIFTH GERMAN EDITION.

  Again a new edition of "An Egyptian Princess" has been required, andagain I write a special preface because the printing has progressed sorapidly as unfortunately to render it impossible for me to correctsome errors to which my attention was directed by the kindness ofthe well-known botanist, Professor Paul Ascherson of Berlin, who hastravelled through Egypt and the Oases.

  In Vol. I, page 7, I allow mimosas to grow among other plants inRhodopis' garden. I have found them in all the descriptions of the Nilevalley, and afterwards often enjoyed the delicious perfume of the goldenyellow flowers in the gardens of Alexandria and Cairo. I now learn thatthis very mimosa (Acacia farnesiana) originates in tropical America, andwas undoubtedly unknown in ancient Egypt. The bananas, which I mentionedin Vol. I, p. 64, among other Egyptian plants, were first introducedinto the Nile valley from India by the Arabs. The botanical errorsoccurring in the last volume I was able to correct. Helm's admirablework on "Cultivated Plants and Domestic Animals" had taught me to noticesuch things. Theophrastus, a native of Asia Minor, gives the firstdescription of a citron, and this proves that he probably saw theso-called paradise-apple, but not our citron, which I am therefore notpermitted to mention among the plants cultivated in ancient Lydia. Palmsand birches are both found in Asia Minor; but I permitted them to growside by side, thereby committing an offense against the geographicalpossibility of vegetable existence. The birch, in this locality,flourishes in the mountainous region, the palm, according to Griesbach(Vegetation of the Earth, Vol. I, p. 319) only appears on the southerncoast of the peninsula. The latter errors, as I previously mentioned,will be corrected in the new edition. I shall of course owe specialthanks to any one who may call my attention to similar mistakes.

  Leipzig, March 5, 1877

  GEORG EBERS