EDIBLE SNAIL. 183 



leagues in width. With respect to forage, they would be 

 at no loss : the ground is covered with tamarisk, broom, 

 clover, and saintfoin, of which latter, especially, camels are 

 passionately fond, besides almost every variety of odori- 

 ferous plant and herb proper for pasturage. 



" The whole of the sides of the valley, through wliich 

 the children of Israel marched, are still tufted with brush- 

 wood, which doubtless afforded food to their beasts, toge- 

 ther with many drier sorts for lighting fire, on which the 

 Israelites could, with the greatest ease, bake the dough they 

 brought with them, on small iron plates, which form a 

 constant appendage to the baggage of an oriental traveller. 

 Lastly, the herbage underneath these trees and shrubs is 

 completely covered wdth snails of a prodigious size, and of 

 the best sort ; and, however uninviting such a repast might 

 appear to us, they are here esteemed a great delicacy. They 

 are so plentiful in this valley, that it may be literally said 

 that it is difficult to take one step without treading on 

 them.'^^ 



Such are the curious facts which reward the exertions of 

 those who delight to trace the footsteps of unerring wisdom, 

 as they appear impressed on far-off shores, or in the depth 



* Schimmelpenninck's ' Biblical Fragments.' 



