
audiobook
by James Bruce
SELECT SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HISTORY, COLLECTED IN Travels to discover the Source of the Nile, IN EGYPT, ARABIA, ABYSSINIA, AND NUBIA. ΑΙΕΙ ΦΕΡΕΙ ΤΙ ΛΙΒΥΗ ΚΑΙΝΟΝ VOL. V. “AND HE SPAKE OF TREES, FROM THE CEDAR-TREE THAT IS IN LEBANON, EVEN UNTO THE HYSSOP THAT SPRINGETH OUT OF THE WALL: HE SPAKE ALSO OF BEASTS, AND OF FOWL, AND OF CREEPING THINGS, AND OF FISHES.” EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY J. RUTHVEN, FOR G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON. M.DCC.XC.
CONTENTS OF THE FIFTH VOLUME.
INTRODUCTION.
Of PLANTS, SHRUBS, and TREES.
PAPYRUS.
BALESSAN, BALM, or BALSAM.
SASSA, MYRRH, and OPOCALPASUM.
ERGETT Y’DIMMO.
ERGETT EL KRONE.
ENSETE.
This volume gathers the curious flora and fauna observed on an ambitious journey to trace the Nile’s source, offering a compact companion to the broader travel narrative. The author separates the natural‑history notes into a single appendix, so readers can explore detailed descriptions of trees, shrubs, medicinal plants, insects and fish without interrupting the story of ancient ruins or local customs. Accompanying plates and fold‑out maps illustrate the landscapes and guide the ear to the exact locations where each specimen was found.
Beyond the scientific catalog, the work reflects on how botanical knowledge has shifted since classical times, noting the rise of new drugs, dyes and gums that emerged after the discovery of the Americas. The careful, line‑by‑line sketches aim to capture objects that may have vanished from the modern record, inviting listeners to picture a world where a humble nettle sits beside a towering cedar. It’s an engaging blend of travelogue and reference, perfect for anyone who enjoys wandering through both geography and nature’s lesser‑known corners.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (378K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, Wayne Hammond and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2018-09-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1730–1794
An 18th-century Scottish explorer and travel writer, he became famous for tracing the Blue Nile in Ethiopia and bringing vivid accounts of northeast Africa back to British readers.
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