ARAB USES OF THE DATE 197 



The orthodox Keeley cure consists in mixing a little 

 crow's blood with the wine; the consumer, it is de- 

 clared, will never want to touch another drop. But 

 the French authorities in North Africa have found 

 a light fine or a few days in jail more effective. 



Formerly the industry was licensed in Tripoli, 

 each tree tapped paying a tax of $4 per year, and it 

 was calculated that the annual income from this 

 source to the government was more than $15,000, 

 while the natives made from fifty to sixty cents per day 

 from each tree.* 



Sometimes whole oases have been subjected to 

 this process, when the well which supplied them had 

 dried up. In such cases it is a legitimate operation, 

 but it is not likely to become an established industry 

 in the United States, although it offers an interesting 

 way of getting rid of worthless seedlings. 



Next to this, the most important beverage made 

 from the date is arrak,t which keeps five distilleries 

 busy in Baghdad alone, and the consumption of which 

 is getting a strong, although concealed, hold on a large 

 part of the Muhammadan population. Dry dates 

 are the best for this purpose; in Baghdad Zahidi and 

 in Egypt Ibrahiml get the preference. At Baghdad 

 the product is often made from dates and grapes in 

 equal parts, and always in the simplest manner. The 

 fruit is allowed to ferment in water, and then double 

 distilled, sugar and aromatics being added. It is 

 interesting to note that wormy dates are reported to 



been trying to find out which they are. The commonest use in the 

 Sahara is as a paste to rid the head of undesirable citizens. 



*See report of Cons. gen. Lago in Brit. Foreign Office Rep., 

 June, 1900. 



fProperly araq; the name means simply "sweat", alluding to 

 the condensation of vapor when it is distilled. 



