[330] Salix orientalis flagellis deorsum pulchre pendentibus, T. Cor.
[331] Nymphœa lutea major, C. B. P. 193.
[332] Convolvulus Syriacus. Scammonia Syriaca, C. B. P. 294.
[333] Siliquastrum, Cast. Dur. 415.
Cotinus coriaria, Dod. P. 780.
Tamariscus Germanicus, Lob. Icon. 218.
Vitex foliis angustioribus cannabis modo dispositis, C. B. P. 475.
Paliurus, Dod. pemp. 756.
Agnus castus.
Emerus Cæsalpini.
Colutea foliolis ovatis integerrimis caule fruticoso.
Erica humilis cortice cinericeo arbuti flore albo, H. R. Par.
Cistus fœmina folio salviæ elatior & rectis virgis, C. B. P.
Cistus mas folio oblongo incano, C. B. P.
Genista tinctoria Lusitanica maxima, Inst. R. H.
Aristolochia Cretica scaudens altissimæ pistalochiæ foliis.
Securidaca lutea, C. B.
Valeriana hortensis, C. B.
Echium Creticum.
An. Valeriana orientalis minime flore leucophæo.
Tithymalus myrsinites angustifolius, C. B. P.
Horminum orientale annuum sativo simile coma carens flore violaceo.
Trifolium bituminosum arboreum angustifolium ac sempervirens, Hort. Carth.
An. Campanula angustifolia pumila floribus cæruleis uno versu dispositis.
Bupleurum orientale angustifolium semine longiore.
Bryonia Cretica maculata, C. B.
Cuminoides.
Chamædrys Alpina frutescens folio splendente.
Gallium montanum latifolium ramosum.
Quinquefolium orientale erectum montanum hirsutum luteum flore majore.
Anonis viscosa spinis carens lutea major, C. B. P.
Cannabina Cretica fructifera.
An. Phlomis orientalis hormini folio flore minore calyce Glabro.
Phlomis orientalis angusto & longiore folio flore luteo.
Elichrysum montanum longiore folio & flore purpureo.
Elichrysum angustifolium incanum maximo flore.
Onobrychis.
Thymbria legitima, Clus.
Alysson fruticosum incanum.
Clematites.
Carduus Creticus rapifolio.
Stæchas purpurea, C. B. P.
Vulneraria flore purpurascente.
Pastinaca sylvestris altissime.
Astragalus Alpinus procerior alepecuroides.
Lunaria leucoii folio siliqua oblonga majore.
Nigella orientalis flore flavescente semine alato plano.
Atriplex latifolia sive halimus fruticosus, Mor. Hist.
An. Thymellæa Cretica oleæ folio utrinque glabro.
Marrubium sideritidis folio flore luteo.
Satureia sativa.
Vicia perennis incana multiflora, Bot. Monsp.
[334] A rotoloe of Aleppo is five pounds.
[335] Leban is a coagulated sour milk, usually prepared by boiling the milk, and, when hot, putting a small proportion of leban into it, which coagulates the whole before next morning. How it was made originally, I could never learn, the natives never using any other than the above method: but, from some experiments which I have been told were made, it would appear, that by first letting some milk stand till sour, then putting a little of it to some fresh milk, which it will turn also, next day repeating the same with this new-turned milk, and so continuing for a number of days, one may at last produce the true leban.
[336] I dissected a male of this species, which was shot a few hours from the city. It was a little bigger than a large mastiff-dog, which it resembled in many respects. Its colour was grey, and streaked transversely with black; the hair harsh, and somewhat longer than that of a dog; and from the hind-part of the head, down the neck and back, it had a long white mane, as described by Aristotle[A]. The opinion of this animal’s being incapable of moving the neck, &c.[B], is without foundation, it having vertebræ, and as easy a motion of the head as dogs, or other animals of that species. I could not observe any thing in the eye particular when dead: however, as I saw it not alive, I cannot contradict what Pliny says, Oculis mille esse varietates colorumque mutationes. Just over the anus was an aperture, which at first sight appeared like a female pudendum, but proved on examination only a shallow kind of sack. Its use I could not find out: but this seems to have given rise to what the ancients report of this animal, and what the natives of this country still believe, viz. that it changes its sex every year. The penis differed from that of a dog, in having no bone. The scrotum was but small, and at first sight seemed to contain but one testicle, the other being close bound up by the skin, so as not to appear externally. The vasa præparantia and deferentia were traced from the testicle through the rings of the muscles; but they were unfortunately cut out with the entrails, which the person who killed the animal had thrown away for the lighter carriage.
[A] Hist. Animal. lib. 8. cap 899.
[B] Plin. Hist. Natural. vol. 2. lib. 8. p. 184.
[337] Rana arborea, seu ranunculus viridis.
[338] Gallus gallinaceus & gallina domestica.
[339] Gallus & gallina ex Persia.
[340] Gallo pavo.
[341] Anser.
[342] Anas.
[343] Galinula choloropus major Aldrovandi.
[344] Rallus aquaticus Aldrovandi.
[345] Anser ferus.
[346] Boscas major, anas torquata major Aldrovandi.
[347] Penelope Aldrovandi.
[348] Tulica.
[349] Platea seu Albordeola.
[350] Querquedula secunda Aldrovandi.
[351] Scolopax Aldrovandi.
[352] Coturnix.
[353] Ortygometra Aldrov. Crex Aristotelis.
[354] Oriolus Alberti.
[355] The kata (See plate IX.) is about the size of a partridge, and its shape between that and a pigeon. The bill is of a light colour, tipp’d with black, short, and thick; the legs white, covered with short feathers on the fore-part; three toes stand forward, and a small spur behind. There is a good deal of variety in their plumage. The bird now described is one of the most beautiful. Round the eyes, and the fore-part of the neck (except under the throat, where it is black), the feathers are of a bright colour; the tips being black, form a sort of ring on the upper part of the breast, which is of a cinnamon colour, terminated at the lower part by a ring of black, like the former. The belly is white. The back, and that part of the wing next to it, is of a mouse-colour, with most of the feathers tipp’d with a bright yellow. Of the same colour is the tip of the pinnion; but the short feathers under it are broad, and tipp’d with black, or a coffee-colour, with a narrow rim of white at the very extremity, having the appearance of so many half-moons. The long feathers of the wing are of a mouse-colour, with the quill black. The feathers on the rump are agreeably variegated with black, white, and yellow. The tail, which is short, like that of a pigeon, ends in two long, very narrow, black feathers or quills, running out near three inches beyond the others, and ending in a point. These birds are in such plenty in the months mentioned in the text, that a whole ass-load has often been taken at once shutting of a clasp-net.
[356] Otis seu tarda avis.
Stella avis.
[357] Perdix ruffa Aldrov.
[358] Francolinus olinæ, known to the French by the name of gelinot.
[359] Alauda vulgaris.
[360] Totavilla olinæ.
[361] Alauda cristata galerita.
[362] Calandra.
[363] Hortulanus Aldrovandi.
[364] Citrinella.
[365] Galinago minor.
[366] Galinago minime.
[367] Turdus.
[368] Turdus Iliacus.
[369] Turtur.
[370] Œnas, sive vinago.
[371] Columba tabellaria.
[372] Vultur niger.
[373] Anocratulus sive pelicanus Aldrov.
[374] Tinnunculus vel centheris.
[375] Ciconia alba vulgaris.
[376] Ciconia nigra.
[377] Buba.
[378] Grus Γερανος.
[379] Grus Numidica.
[380] Ardea cinerea major sive pella.
[381] Phœnicopterus.
[382] Corvus aquaticus.
[383] Œdicnemus Bellon. Charadrius Gesner.
[384] Corvus.
[385] Cornix cinerea frugilega.
[386] Cornix.
[387] Monedula.
[388] Pica varia caudata.
[389] Ardea cinerea minor, Germanis nycticorax.
[390] Sturnus.
[391] Merula vulgaris.
[392] This bird is about the size and shape of a starling, and seems of that species. The bill is short, and black; of which colour are also the legs. The plumage on the body is of a flesh-colour: the head, neck, wings, and tail, are black.
[393] Larus cinereus tert. Aldrov.
[394] Hirundo domestica.
[395] Hirundo agrestis sive rustica Plinii.
[396] Hirundo apis.
[397] Upupa.
[398] Merops sive apiaster.
[399] Passer domesticus.
[400] Fringilla.
[401] Carduelis.
[402] Linaria vulgaris.
[403] Turdus pilaris.
[404] Motacilla alba.
[405] Cuculus.
[406] Ispida, An veterum Alcyon?
[407] Picus varius major.
[408] Œnanthus nostra tertia. Muscicapa tertia Aldrov.
[409] Passer troglodites Aldrov.
[410] Jaquacati guacu Margrav.
[411] Pluvialis viridis.
[412] Pluvialis cinerea.
[413] Luscinea, seu philomela.
[414] See Plate X. where it is drawn with its neck stretched out, being the common action of this bird. The length of the bird in this posture, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, is 15 inches; the neck, from the setting on of the shoulders, 5½; the bill 2 inches; from the tip of one wing to that of the other, when extended, 20½ inches. The body of the bird is but small, about the size of a rail; and the colour of the feathers resemble also those of that bird. The top of the head, and tips of the wings, are black; the legs are long, of a greenish white colour: the toes four. This bird is common on the river Coic near Aleppo.
[415] See Plate XI. The description is as follows. From the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, 11½ inches; the breadth between the tips of the extended wings 23 inches; weight of the bird 4 ounces. The bill is somewhat more than an inch in length, the upper mandible being the longest, and a very little crooked at the extremity. From the upper part of the thigh to the extremity of the middle claw, is 7 inches. These long legs are bare of feathers from the middle of the thigh, and black. The claws are also black, three in number; of which the middle one is the longest, and is joined by a membrane to the outer claw. This bird has no back-claw.
The crown of the head is black; the neck white, except a streak of black, which is continued from the chin to the breast. The breast, with the greater part of the belly, is black; the feathers of the lower part of the belly and the thighs white. The back is of a mouse-colour. The tail is not forked, and about 4 inches in length; the half next to the body white, the other half black[C]. The nine longest quill-feathers of the wings are black; the others white, but black at the tips; so that the whole lower part of the wing appears of that colour. The covert-feathers are of the same colour with the back[D]. In the fore-part of each wing is a little sharp, straight, blackish horn, like a cock’s spur; below which for a little way the covert-feathers are white.
This bird is also found nigh the river Coic.
[C] The two outer feathers tipp’d with white.
[D] Seven of the outer covert-feathers black.
[416] Cyprinus Rondeletii, Gesneri, & aliorum.
[417] Mystus Niloticus Bellonii.
[418] Barbus Rondel.
[419] Nasus Alberti, Aldrov.
[420] Tœnia cornuta Schonfeldii.
[421] Anguilla Rondeletii, & omnium fere autorum.
[422] The fish, Plate XII. No. 1. in its shape resembles very much the Silurus Rondeletii, like it too having no scales. Its length (from the nose to the tip of the tail) 20 inches, weight 20 ounces; but they are of different sizes. The head and back are black: the lateral line runs quite from the head to the tail, on the middle of the side; below which, to the belly, the colour generally changes to a dark purple. Of the same colour is the under-part of the head. The head is flat, and in length near 5 inches; the body is round, till within a few inches of the tail, where it grows flat. The mouth is not so large in proportion as that of the silurus. It has no tongue; and the structure of the mouth and palate agree exactly with the description of that fish. From the edge of the nostril on each side arises a small cirrus, and from the angles of the mouth two others, that are stronger, and twice as long. On the lower lip are four more, the two external being the longest. The eyes are situated near the corner of the mouth, close upon the inferior edge of the upper jaw. The branchiæ are four on each side; and all of them have a double row of sharp points, like the teeth of a comb. It has two fins near the branchiæ, consisting of seven radii; to the anterior part of which joins a pretty strong prickly bone. About an inch above the anus are two smaller fins. A long fin extends from under the anus to the tail, as another of the same kind does from the neck all along the back: neither of these join with the tail, which is round at the tip, and composed of about 22 feathers.
This fish is found in the river Orontes, and, I believe, also in some stagnant waters near it. The markets of Aleppo are plentifully supplied with it from the month of November till the beginning of March. The flesh is red, like beef, of a rank taste; and though, for want of better, ate much by the people, yet is esteemed unwholsome. The name it usually goes by is simack il aswad, which signifies the black fish. Its proper name however among the natives is siloor.
[423] Silurus Rondeletii, Gesneri, P. 1047.
[424] Cobitis fluviatilis barbatula Gesner.
[425] Alburnus Ausonii.
[426] Capito sive cephalus Ges. p. 215.
[427] Rutilus sive rubellus fluviatilis Gesner.
[428] Gobius fluviatilis Gesner.
[429] Mugilis vel cephali fluviat. spec. min.
[430] Leuciscus Bellonii.
[431] Carassius simpliciter dictus.
[432] Phoxinus squamosus major.
[433] The fish, Plate XII. fig. 2. has, upon a slight view, so much the appearance of an eel, and, except its not being so fat, eats so like that fish, that though it is much oftener brought to the tables of the Europeans at Aleppo than any other fish found in the river Coic, it has never been suspected of being any ways different from the common eel; and yet, upon examination, it will be found of quite another genus.
The head is long and small: the extremity of the upper jaw runs out to a narrow point, like the bill of a bird; on each side of which, a little distant from the extreme point, are two tubuli, or processes. As in the common eel there are two fins at the gills, from the occiput, all along the ridge of the back, small prickles are placed at little distances, resembling the teeth of a saw. These terminate at the origin of a membranaceous fin, rising about four inches from the tail, and is continued (as in the eel) along the lower part of the belly to the anus; at which place are also found two or three prickles. The colour of the head and back is blackish, variegated with dark yellow spots; the lower belly white, changing gradually into a yellowish cast. The fin of the lower belly, near to the anus, is yellow; the other half spotted with black. The length of the fish described was eleven inches.
[434] The fish, Plate XIII. fig. 1. is about four inches long. The head is large and flat, the body oblong and compressed. Its colour is mostly of a dark silver. The eyes are large and protuberant. From the lower jaw arise four cirri; the longer measure one inch, the shorter two-thirds of an inch. From the upper jaw arise two longer, each measuring two inches and a half, of a firmer texture than either those of the lower jaw, or of two other small ones placed just by the nostrils. Between the two long cirri are two small tubuli. The whole of the cirri are of a white colour, excepting the two longest, which are of a darkish colour, like the upper part of the head. The fins are eight in number; two by the gills, each furnished with a strong saw-like bone: two small ones near the anus; one of eight radii, situated half-way between the anus and the tail; one consisting of seven radii on the back. Another fin, of a membraneous and fleshy texture, arises from the middle of the back, and is continued all along to the tail. The tail is forked.
[435] Plate XIII. fig. 2. represents a fish, which in its general form, somewhat resembles the above. It is in length three inches: the head is rather flatter: the mouth has a more inferior situation, and is in proportion larger, than that of the former fish: eyes much smaller. The cirri, situated as in the other, are eight in number, but much shorter, these that rise from the upper jaw (being the longest) measuring only one inch; they are also flatter at their origin. They both agree in the number of their fins; neither has the saw-like bone in the fin of the back, but only in those near the gills. The fleshy fin of the back is much smaller than in the zakzuk, and rises at a much greater distance from the backfin. The colour is a pale silver, marbled with grey, particularly the lower part of the fins and tail; the two larger cirri likewise marbled, the others white.
These two fishes, fig. 1. & 2. have no scales; and the palate, and other structure of the inside of the mouth, is like that of the silurus.
This last described fish is also from the river Coic.
[436] This calculation was made by some priests from the harach, (a pole-tax levied upon the male Christians and Jews, after they arrive at a certain age that they are supposed to be capable of work): an estimate of the bread consumed in the city, and the number of those who died of the plague in 1742; which they found to be among the Christians in the proportion of five to the hundred, and from thence they calculated the Turks to be in the same proportion, and so reckoned the number at 300,000: but as all the Christians who can afford it keep out of the way of infection, which but few Turks dare do, it is plain a much greater proportion of the latter must die of the disease, and so cause a fallacy in this calculation; so that I have only reckoned them at 200,000.
[437] Their menses begin from the age of twelve to fourteen, and continue till forty, sometimes forty-five. In most they return once in four weeks, and continue from three to seven days.
[439] This appears to be the same with what in India they call bing, and is no other than the leaves of the female hemp, first powdered, then put into wet pepper, and covered with hot ashes till it forms a sort of paste, which they press into a thin cake, and then cut it into small lozenges, and dry it. About half a drachm of this put into a pipe of tobacco, or rather the nargeery, and smoked with the tobacco, will make a person drunk, or rather mad; and a few grains, mixed with any thing sweet (particularly, as they say, figs, though perhaps what it is swallowed in is of little consequence), will, if taken inwardly, have the same effect. They assert that acids will immediately put a stop to its effects. This intoxicating quality of the hemp is mentioned by Galen.
[440] Composed of 720 drachms of quick-lime, and 90 drachms of orpiment powdered. This they moisten a little at the time of using.
[441] Jareed is a kind of javelin, or small stick, about two feet and a half long, which they learn to throw very dextrously, so as to go pointed as a dart. The exercise here meant is the throwing this when on horseback, a mock-fight with this weapon being a common entertainment: and it is surprising to see with what dexterity they manage their horses, so as to avoid running one against another, when numbers are galloping seemingly in the greatest disorder.
[443] Zumr.
[444] Napheer.
[445] Snooge.
[446] Tabble.
[447] Nakara.
[448] Santeer.
[449] Tamboor.
[450] Naii.
[451] Kaman jee.
[452] Diff.
[454] Explanation of Plate XV. The windows are represented as opening on the outer court-yards of a great house, where the colonade, or gallery, and stair-case, are easily distinguished. In the front of the picture, the Turkish method of decorating their rooms with Arab inscriptions, painting and carving, is exhibited. The carpet, matrass, and cushions, denote the divan properly furnished; in the nearest corner of which sits a kadee, smoking the nargeery after the Persian manner. He is dressed in what they call a ferragee, which is lined with fur, and has wide sleeves. This dress, though most commonly worn by the lawyers, is also sometimes wore by other persons of distinction: but the turbant is of that sort which is peculiar to that profession. In the centre sits a sardar, or aga of the Janizaries. The form of his turbant is that which belongs to the officers of that body; but that of his robe is what is wore indiscriminately by all well-dressed people, only peculiar to such vests as are lined with short-haired furs, as sable, ermin, squirrel, &c. which they wear in the spring and autumn. He is drinking coffee; and before him stands a servant to receive the coffee-cup, in that dress, and humble, submissive attitude in which they are accustomed to wait upon their masters. In the farther corner sits a bashaw, smoking a pipe after the manner of the Turks. His turbant is in the form that all the people of fashion in that country wear, and his robe that which constitutes a full dress in the winter; when it is lined with long-haired fur, such as is taken from the ounce, foxes of different kinds, &c. The whole forms a scene of a Turkish entertainment.
Plate XVI. represents a Turkish lady of condition in the proper dress of Aleppo. She is represented as sitting carelessly on a divan, smoking a pipe, and her servant presenting a dish of coffee in the usual manner.