9834 THE DATES OF FEZZAN. 
from the mouth of the natives of Fezzan, the Arabie names of nearly 
fifty different species of this precious fruit, cultivated in those Oases, 
with a brief description of the qualities of each of them. 
I am, &c. &c., 
(signed) James RICHARDSON. 
Various species of the Date-fruit cultivated in the Oases of Fezzan. 
1. Tasfer’t. Long-shaped and longish, red, and of a good quality; 
ripens late. 
2. Amo’uwee. Large and round, red, sweet and good ; ripens late. 
3. Am’reer. Small and round, black, “reteb”* (literally soft), or 
does not become dry so as to be preserved as an article of food ; 
ripens soon. 
4. Talees. Very long-shaped, red, very sweet; ripens late. 
5. El Kaub.f Small and round, sweet, and reteb ; ripens soon. 
6. El Koka'ee. Small and round, sweet ; ripens late. 
7. Sábier. Largish and round, sweet ; ripens late. 
8. Saloíloá. Large and round, and deliciously sweet ; esteemed as 
the finest quality of all Fezzan dates ; ripens late. 
9. Taghaíat. Long and largish, red, and very sweet ; ripens late. 
10. Fer’takot. Large-shaped and good-sized, red, very sweet; ripens 
late. : 
11. Séloum’. Long and largish, red, sweet; ripens soon ; partly 7 eteh. 
1% Tai’ Bela’h (i. e., good dates). Small and round, yellow, and 
LAU | very sweet. 
. 18. El Kouwee’yaf. Long and smallish, red, reteb, and good; soon 
ripens. 
14. Nafouwsh. Round and large, red, good quality, and of the species 
which ripens latish, if not the latest. 
15. Jinfak'h. Large and round, red, good ; ripens late. 
. 16. Loo’ree’k. Small, thin, and filberd-shaped, yellow, exceedingly 
= sweet; ripens soon. 
. * A great quantity of dates are refe). Both in the suburbs of Tripoli, and 
in the Isle of Jubat, nearly all the dates are eaten as soon as gathered, not drying, 
. 80 as to serve for wholesome food, being “‘ reted.” 
+ There is a certain arbitrary use of the Arabie article prevalent in all these ' 
countries, as before the names of towns and wells :—the article is sometimes 
before the name of a species of date-fruit. 
