FLOWERS OF THE HOLY LAXD. 29 



were made at the present little Arab village of El Kfib, the 

 ancient Elethyia, on the right bank of the Nile.* But what 

 shall we say of those examinations of the soil that led to the 

 decision against the growth of the vine in ancient Egypt? They 

 were doubtless correct. But, while they had reference only to 

 the present state of the land, they merely proved that many cen 

 turies ago the soil of Egypt had undergone a change, and that 

 the plants which once grew there had taken their departure, or 

 had perished, long before the time of Herodotus. Now leave 

 Egypt, and travel eastward and northward into Palestine, and 

 similar evidences appear. A celebrated traveller (Robinson) 

 discovered near Ga/a an old stone wine-press. The presses 

 were there, but the vines, as in Egypt, were gone; and the soil 

 is of such a nature as to forbid the assertion that any vine 

 yard for many centuries before could have nourished in that 

 region. 



Let us wander over this land of the Israelites. Some of its 

 flowers and fruits have passed away, and others have taken 

 their places. New flowers and new fruits grow on Mount 

 Olivet, in Gethsemane, in Jerusalem, and throughout the 

 country. Many plants common in some parts of the East in 

 the time of our Saviour were evidently brought there from 

 other lands. It is evident that even as far back as the time 

 of Solomon, trees were transplanted and gardens adorned witb 

 plants and flowers which did not naturally belong to the soil. 

 (Eccles. ii. 5.) And, judging from the elevated character of 

 his reign, we might suppose that the king who was so well 



* Description de 1 Egypte pendant 1 Expedition de 1 Armee fran$aise. 



