a name given in Egypt to an eulent root, approaching to the taste and virtues of the colocasia. It is also a name used in Malabar for a small fruit of the shape and size of an hazel nut. Both these things have the credit of being strong provocatives; and it is very probable that the curcas of the East Indies may be the fruit called bel by Avicenna, and said to possess the same virtues. Garcias has been led into a very great error by this similarity of names and virtues; and supposes the curcas of Egypt the same with that of the East Indies.