182 pliny's natural history. [Book XIII. 



the lower part, and is consequently quite yellow on the sur- 

 face, as the young suckers deprive the trunk of the requisite 

 moisture. When the fruit of the preceding year is gathered, 

 about the rising of the Dog-star, fresh fruit immediately makes 

 its appearance ; after which the tree blossoms while the con- 

 stellation of Arc turus 76 is above the horizon, and the winter 

 imparts nourishment to the fruit. 



CHAP. 17. (9.) THE PERSIAN TREE. IN WHAT TREES THE FRUITS 



GERMINATE THE ONE BELOW THE OTHEK. 



Egypt, too, produces another tree of a peculiar description, 

 the Persian 77 tree, similar in appearance to the pear-tree, but 

 retaining its leaves during the winter. This tree produces 

 without intermission, for if the fruit is pulled to-day, fresh 

 fruit will make its appearance to-morrow : the time for ripen- 

 ing is while the Etesian 78 winds prevail. The fruit of this 

 tree is more oblong than a pear, but is enclosed in a shell and 

 a rind of a grassy colour, like the almond ; but what is found 

 within, instead of being a nut as in the almond, is a plum, 

 differing from the almond 79 in being shorter and quite soft. This 

 fruit, although particularly inviting for its luscious sweetness, 

 is productive of no injurious effects. The wood, for its good- 

 ness, solidity, and blackness, is in no respect inferior to that 

 of the lotus : people have been in the habit of making statues 

 of it. The wood of the tree which we have mentioned as 

 the "balanus," 80 although very durable, is not so highly es- 

 teemed as this, as it is knotted and twisted in the greater 

 part : hence it is only employed for the purposes of ship- 

 building. 



76 See B. xviii. c. 74. 



77 Fee identifies it with the Egyptian almond, mentioned by Pliny in 

 B. xv. c. 28; the Myrobalanus chebulus of Wesling, the Balanites 

 iEgyptiaca of Delille, and the Xymenia iEgyptiaca of Linnaeus. Schreber 

 and Sprcngel take it to be the Cordia Sebestana of Linnaeus ; but that is a 

 tree peculiar to the Antilles. The fruit is in shape like a date, enclosing a 

 large stone with five sides, and covered with a little viscous flesh, of some- 

 what bitter, though not disagreeable flavour. It is found in the vicinity 

 of Sennaar, and near the Red Sea. The Arabs call it the " date of the 

 Desert," 



78 See B. xviii. c. 68. " See B. xv. c. 34. 

 M Or ben. See B. xii. cc. 46, 47. 



