An Egyptian Princess | Page 7

all the descriptions of the Nile
valley, and afterwards often enjoyed the delicious perfume of the
golden yellow flowers in the gardens of Alexandria and Cairo. I now
learn that this very mimosa (Acacia farnesiana) originates in tropical
America, and was undoubtedly unknown in ancient Egypt. The bananas,
which I mentioned in Vol. I, p. 64, among other Egyptian plants, were
first introduced into the Nile valley from India by the Arabs. The
botanical errors occurring in the last volume I was able to correct.
Helm's admirable work on "Cultivated Plants and Domestic Animals"
had taught me to notice such things. Theophrastus, a native of Asia
Minor, gives the first description of a citron, and this proves that he
probably saw the so- called paradise-apple, but not our citron, which I
am therefore not permitted to mention among the plants cultivated in
ancient Lydia. Palms and birches are both found in Asia Minor; but I
permitted them to grow side by side, thereby committing an offense
against the geographical possibility 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 southern coast of the peninsula. The latter errors, as I
previously mentioned, will be corrected in the new edition. I shall of
course owe special thanks to any one who may call my attention to
similar mistakes.
Leipzig, March 5, 1877
GEORG EBERS

PREFACE TO THE NINTH GERMAN EDITION.

I have nothing to add to the ninth edition of "An Egyptian Princess"
except that it has been thoroughly revised. My sincere thanks are due to
Dr. August Steitz of Frankfort on the Main, who has travelled through
Egypt and Asia Minor, for a series of admirable notes, which he kindly
placed at my disposal. He will find that they have not remained unused.
Leipzig, November 13, 1879. GEORG EBERS

AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, Part 1.
By Georg Ebers
Volume 1.

CHAPTER I.
The Nile had overflowed its bed. The luxuriant corn-fields and
blooming gardens on its shores were lost beneath a boundless waste of
waters; and only the gigantic temples and palaces of its cities,
(protected from the force of the water by dikes), and the tops of the tall
palm-trees and acacias could be seen above its surface. The branches of
the sycamores and plane-trees drooped and floated on the waves, but
the boughs of the tall silver poplars strained upward, as if anxious to
avoid the watery world beneath. The full-moon had risen; her soft light
fell on the Libyan range of mountains vanishing on the western horizon,
and in the north the shimmer of the Mediterranean could faintly be
discerned. Blue and white lotus-flowers floated on the clear water, bats
of all kinds darted softly through the still air, heavy with the scent of
acacia- blossom and jasmine; the wild pigeons and other birds were at
roost in the tops of the trees, while the pelicans, storks and cranes
squatted in groups on the shore under the shelter of the papyrus-reeds
and Nile- beans. The pelicans and storks remained motionless, their
long bills hidden beneath their wings, but the cranes were startled by
the mere beat of an oar, stretching their necks, and peering anxiously
into the distance, if they heard but the song of the boatmen. The air was
perfectly motionless, and the unbroken reflection of the moon, lying
like a silver shield on the surface of the water, proved that, wildly as
the Nile leaps over the cataracts, and rushes past the gigantic temples of
Upper Egypt, yet on approaching the sea by different arms, he can

abandon his impetuous course, and flow along in sober tranquillity.
On this moonlight night in the year 528 B. C. a bark was crossing the
almost currentless Canopic mouth of the Nile. On the raised deck at the
stern of this boat an Egyptian was sitting to guide the long pole-rudder,
and the half-naked boatmen within were singing as they rowed. In the
open cabin, which was something like a wooden summer-house, sat
two men, reclining on low cushions. They were evidently not Egyptians;
their Greek descent could be perceived even by the moonlight. The
elder was an unusually tall and powerful man of more than sixty; thick
grey curls, showing very little attempt at arrangement, hung down over
his short, firm throat; he wore a simple, homely cloak, and kept his
eyes gloomily fixed on the water. His companion, on the contrary, a
man perhaps twenty years younger, of a slender and delicate build, was
seldom still. Sometimes he gazed into the heavens, sometimes made a
remark to the steersman, disposed his beautiful purple chlanis in fresh
folds, or busied himself in the arrangement of his scented