488 VARIOUS LETTERS Page 203. The lake Fittri is a lake, the waters of which are said to be filtered through the earth, as the name implies. The Nile is here said to run under ground. The Arabs and Moors have a tradition, that the waters of Noah's flood rested here, and were absorbed and filtered through the earth, leaving only this large lake. I never understood this sea to be identified with the Bahar Heimed ° ; i. e. the Hot or Warm Sea. The Hot Sea and the Filtered Sea are distinct waters ; the former lies about mid-way, in a right line between Lake Fittri and Lake Dwi. (See Laurie and Whittle's Map of Africa, published in 1818.)

This is another inaccuracy of Mr. Hutchison ; who appears, indeed, to have collected information from natives, without considering what title they had to credibility. Another error is added to the note in page 203 and 204, viz. what he calls sweet beans are unquestionably dates, which have not the least affinity in taste, shape, growth, or quality, to beans. The Arabic name correctly converted into European letters, is timmery not tummer. The Arabic words designating sweet beans, is Elfool El Hellue, The passage signed William Hutchison here alluded to, is this : " The Arabs eat black rice, corn, and sweet beans called tummer."

Note, page 204. I do not know whence the Quarterly Review has derived its information ** Heimed is an Arabic term, signifying that degree of heat which milk has when coming from the cow or goat.