50 THE PALMS OF EUROPE AND AFRICA. 



army. It is said that pollen has thus pre- 

 served its powers during nineteen years. 



Palm trees form a valuable property, and 

 confer importance on their owners ; and so 

 mucli is this the case that there is an Arabic 

 proverb reflecting on the custom for persona 

 who affect consequence to ■which they have no 

 claim to pretend that the dates they consume are 

 produced by trees of their own.* Date planta- 

 tions are described as forming very beautiful 

 scenes ; with summits perpetually fresh and 

 green, and upheld in a majestic succession of 

 colonnades, they have been happily compared to 

 a temple of nature, representing one eternal 

 spring. Tlie date groves round Medina are 

 cultivated by farmers, who are taxed by the 

 "Wuhabees, according to the number of trees in 

 each field ; and not only is the produce of the 

 groves and gardens thus mulcted, but heavy 

 assessments -are imposed even upon the water 

 used in irrigating them. For every erdeb of 

 dates the tax-gatherers levy their quota, either 

 in kind or in money, according to the current 

 market price. Each small grove is inclosed 

 by a mud or stone wall, and interspersed with 

 hamlets or low insulated huts. The trees 

 pass from one individual to another in the 

 * Burckhardt's Arnbic rroverl)8, No. 12G. 



