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He then told us that when figs are gathered 

 in that country, they are thrown into a heap, in 

 a building prepared for the purpose, and that a 

 syrup flows from them which is used for making 

 brandy. They are then spread to dry in the 

 sun, and after some days, are pressed into small 

 baskets, made of the dwarf fan-palm, each 

 basket containing 28 pounds weight. 



The carob tree is one of the most beautiful of 

 European trees, according to Mr. Lumley's ac- 

 count ; it attains a considerable height, and has a 

 wide shady top, with a graceful, evergreen foliage 

 of small glossy leaves. The wood is hard and 

 red, and very useful ; and the large pods of seed 

 when dry, make excellent fodder for cattle : this 

 tree is also called St. John's bread. 



But what made the greatest impression on me, 

 was his description of a forest of date palms, 

 near the town of Elche in Valencia. The fruit 

 hanging on all sides, in large clusters of an 

 orange colour, and the men swinging on ropes 

 to gather them, formed, he says, a very striking 

 scene. The trees were old and lofty ; and their 

 number was said to exceed two hundred thou- 

 sand. Many of them had their branches bound 

 up to a point, and covered with mats, by which 

 process they became white ; they are then cut 

 off and sent by ship-loads from Alicant, to various 

 parts of Italy, for the grand processions on Palm 

 Sunday. 



