THE DATE. 351 



This region of the date has perhaps remained for a 

 longer period unchanged in its inhabitants and its 

 productions than any other portion of the world. 

 The Ishmaelites, as described in Scripture history, 

 were but little different from the Bedouins of the pre- 

 sent time ; and the palm-tree (which in ancient history 

 invariably means the date) was of the same use, and 

 held in the same esteem, as it is now. When the 

 sacred writers wished to describe the majesty and 

 the beauty of rectitude, they appealed to the palm as 

 the fittest emblem which they could select. " He shall 

 grow up and flourish like the palm tree" is the pro- 

 mise which the Royal Poet of Israel makes for the just. 



Even among the followers of other faiths, the palm 

 has always been the symbol held in the greatest 

 veneration. It is recorded of Mahomet that, like the 

 psalmist, he was accustomed to compare the virtuous 

 and generous man to the date-tree: u He stands 

 erect before his Lord; in every action he follows the 

 impulse received from above; and his whole life is 

 devoted to the welfare of his fellow creatures." The 

 inhabitants of Medina, who possess the most exten- 

 sive plantations of date-trees, say that their prophet 

 caused a tree at once to spring from the kernel at his 

 command, and to stand before his admiring followers 

 in mature fruitfulness and beauty.* The Tamana- 

 quas of South America have a tradition that the 

 human race sprung again from the fruits of the 

 palm, after the Mexican age of water. The useful- 

 ness of the tree has thus caused it to be the subject 

 of universal veneration. In ancient times, and in 

 modern, the palm has been the symbol of triumph. 

 The Jews carry it on a solemn festival in commemo- 

 ration of their fathers having gained possession of 

 the promised land;| and the Christians in remem- 



* Burckhardt's Arabia. 



t Judsa was typified by the palm-tree upon coins of Vespa- 

 sian and Titus. 



