THE DATE. 97 



other trees ; that the cutting off of its head causes it to 

 die, and that not only are the trees of this race of two 

 kinds, as breathing creatures are of two sexes, but that, 

 as they affirm, even particular trees have their individual 

 partialities, and blossom simultaneously with some chosen 

 companion, as birds pair off at nesting-time. A curious 

 example of the influence of this superstition is contained 

 in an extract given by Beechy from a Moorish horti- 

 cultural work. "When," says the author, "a palm-tree 

 refuses to bear, the owner, armed with a hatchet, comes 

 to visit it in company with another person. He begins 

 by observing aloud to his friend, in order that the date- 

 tree may hear him, * I am going to cut down this worthless 

 tree, since it no longer bears me any fruit.' 'Have a 

 care what you do,' replies his companion, ' for I predict 

 that this very year your tree will be covered with dates.' 

 ' No ! no ! ' cries the owner, ' I am very determined to cut 

 it down, for I am certain it will produce me nothing ; ' 

 and then approaching the tree, he proceeds to give it two 

 or three strokes with his hatchet. The friend again in- 

 terferes, and begs him to try one more season ; adding, that 

 if it does not bear then, he will let him do as he pleases. 

 The owner at length suffers himself to be persuaded, and 

 retires without proceeding to further extremities. The 

 threat, however, and the few strokes inflicted with the 

 hatchet, have always the desired effect, and the terrified 

 palm-tree never fails to produce the same year an abun- 

 dant crop." It is curious matter for speculation what 

 may be the connection between this strange custom and 

 the Christian parable of the barren fig-tree. 



Among these people, too, it bears different names at 

 different stages of its growth, and every part of the tree 

 is distinguished by some special title, so that it is said 

 there are actually 300 words in the Arabic language 

 enlisted in the service of this plant, all used to give ex- 

 pression, in various ways, to that one idea the date- 

 palm; while, according to Gibbon, the native writers 

 have celebrated in prose and yerse no less than 360 uses 

 to which it and its products are applied. An anecdote is 

 related by Sir John Malcolm, that an Arab woman who 



