134 FLORA OF THE 



Now it is well known that propagation by seed some- 

 times leads to the creation, so to speak, of nezv and 

 startling varieties, with fruit larger, sweeter, and more 

 pulpy than that of ordinary trees. Such a godsend, 

 when it occurred, would have undoubtedly attracted the 

 attention of the Assyrians. 



It is enough to read all that has been said and 

 written of this wonderful palm to realize in what 

 estimation some varieties are now held, and how much 

 more reverence they must have shown to the date tree 

 in Chaldcean times, when the existence of the people 

 must have largely depended on this one tree. When 

 any new and finer variety came into being from seed, 

 they would have naturally made a sort of divinity of it 

 and tried to save it from destruction. 



The number of varieties now in existence is astonish- 

 ing. Numerous myths and superstitions have entwined 

 themselves round the different varieties of dates. Some 

 are scarce and so choice that they are not sold, but 

 kept solely for presenting to great persons, as natives 

 of India do with the choice varieties of mangos. 



This is what R. F. Burton wrote on p. 272 of his 

 * Pilgrimage to El-Medina and Mecca ' : — " The date 



trees of El-Medina merit their celebrity Books 



enumerate 139 varieties; but the best kind is El-Shelebi, 

 which is high priced and only sent as presents. The 

 Ajtvah date is eaten, but not sold, because a tradition 



