of the Terrestrial Globe, 9!^ 



trees of Jericho, on the other hand, would mark from 69*8' to 

 71°.6 as the lowest limit. 



The Jews of old celebrated the feast of Tabernacles, or of 

 the vintage, in October. It is in the end of September or be- 

 ginning of October, that they now gather the grapes in the 

 neighbourhod of Jerusalem. 



In ancient times, they had their harvest in Palestine, from 

 the middle of April to the end of May. And travellers in our 

 days have seen the barley perfectly yellow in the southern part 

 of the same country in the middle of April. Near to Acre, it 

 was ripe on the 13th of May. We also knew that in Egypt, 

 where the temperature is higher, they now cut the barley at 

 the end of April, or beginning of May. 



The reason of our having brought together so many argu- 

 ments, all bearing upon the same region of the globe, may be per- 

 ceived, if it is considered that Palestine is one of the countries of 

 the old world, which must least of any have experienced those 

 peculiar modifications of climates, the cause of which we are 

 seeking for in the general improvement of the country, and the 

 agricultural labours of man. Hence, for it is well to repeat it, 

 the invariability of the temperature of this country must lead 

 to this conclusion, that thirty-three centuries have not induced 

 any change in the illuminating and heating properties of the 

 sun. But the demonstration of this proposition could not be 

 supported by too many proofs, since it has been stated of the 

 stars, we ought rather to say the far distant suns, that their 

 light becomes dim, and terminates at length by a total disap- 

 pearance. 



IX. Of the Climate of Europe in Ancient Times* 



The various memoranda which we have found in the most 

 ancient authors, concerning the agricultural productions of 

 Palestine, have a perfect agreement amongst themselves. The 

 plants were/accurately defined, and the localities were accurately 

 mentioned, so that we obtained all desirable certainty. It will 

 generally be supposed, that this plan of investigation, would be 

 equally satisfactory concerning the ancient climate of Egypt. 

 This, however, is not the case. And this not because there are 

 no memorials ; but because their discrepancies are so great, that 



