46 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



description of the various kinds, almost every 

 country producing peas suitable to its soil 

 and climate. 



The earliest kind of which we have any 

 mention is lentils, Lens. This is the species 

 of tare, for a mess of which Esau sold his 

 birthright to his brother Jacob.* 



Pliny relates-f*, that the old writers state 

 that the eating of lentils caused men to be 

 mild and patient, wherefore they were called 

 Lenti and Lenes : they have (says he) two 

 kinds of them in Egypt. To this day they 

 are much used in that country, as well as the 

 chick-pea : they are parched in a frying-pan, 

 and considered the best food for those who 

 undertake long journeys. 



Bellonius assures us, that at Grand Cairo 

 and Damascus, there are abundance of shops 

 where people do nothing else but fry peas, 

 it being a sort of provision with which they 

 furnish travellers. 



The ancient Hebrews made use of lentils 

 and chick-peas as their common provision 

 when they took the field. Daniel begged 

 that he might not be defiled by the meat 

 which Nebuchadnezzar had ordered for his 



* Gen. c. xxv. 29. 34. f Book xviii. c. 12. 



