i?i Syria, Phoenice Sfr. ^6s 



Though the Corn which is produced near Lat'ikea, is the Tobacco 

 beft and the moft early of that Part οι Syria, yet, of late, theLadS. "* 

 Inhabitants have negleoled This Branch of Husbandry, toge- 

 ther with That of the Vine, (for both which, it was formerly 

 famous ",) and employ themfelves chiefly in the more profita- 

 ble Culture of Tobacco. This is a very confiderable, and in- 

 deed the only Article of Trade, which hath in a few Years fo 

 greatly enriched this City, and the Country round about It. 

 For there is fliipped off, every Year, from hQncQtoT) ami- at a 

 and Scandarea, more than twenty thoufand Bales, to the no 

 fmall Diminution of that Branch of Trade at Salonica. 



The Holy Land, were it as well peopled and cultivated, as^''^ i^oiy 

 in former Time, would ftill be more fruitful, than the very/jS/ "Zl 

 beft Part of the Coaft of Syria and Thoenice. For the Soilfcfcc! 

 itfelf is generally much richer, and, all Things confidered, 

 yields a more preferable Crop. Thus the Cotton that is gathered 

 in the Plains οΐ Ramah, Efdraelon and Zahulo?i, is in greater 

 Efteem, than what is cultivated near Sidon and Tripoly-^ 

 neither is it poflible for Pulfe, Wheat or any fort of Grain 

 to be more excellent, than what is commonly fold at Jem- 

 falem. The Barrennefs, or Scarcity rather, which fome Au- 

 thors ^ may either ignorantly or malicioufly complain of, does 

 not proceed from the Incapacity or natural Unfruitfulnefs of 

 the Country, but from the Want of Inhabitants, and the great 

 Averfion there is to Labour and Induftry in thofe few who 

 poiTefs it. There are befides, fuch perpetual Difcords and 

 Depredations among the petty Princes, who fhare this fine 

 Country, that, allowing it was better peopled, yet there would 

 be fmall Encouragement to fow, when it was uncertain, who 

 ihould gather in the Harveft. Otherwife the Land is a good 

 Land, and ftill capable of affording it's Neighbours the like 



1 Vid. Not. I. p. 522. 2 Michael (Villanovanus) Servettis, in his Edition of Ptolenij, 

 Liigd. 1 yjj. hath, in the Delcription which he annexes to the Table of the Holy Land, the 

 following Words. Scits tamen Leilor optime, injuria aut jailantia pura tantam Imic Terra boni- 

 tittem fnijie adfcriptam, eoquod ipfa Experientia mercatorum & peregre proficifccntium, hane linul- 

 tam, ficr'ilew, oiiini duUedine carentem dcpromit. Quare promijfam Terrain poliicitam C" mn 

 vcrnactila Lingua Lmdantem promncias &c. Vid. New Memoirs of Literature. Vol.i. p. 26. &c. 

 But among many other Travellers, who have ftrongly aiTcrted the Contrary, I fliall fubjoyn 

 the following Obfervations of P. de La Valle upon this Country, which agree exactly with 

 mine. II paefe, per donde camhiavamo era beliifftma. Tutte collini, valli e jnonticelli fruttifcri. 

 Le convallc de Mambre e a punto comme tutti gli altri paeft dintorno, che quantunquc montuoft e 

 fajfofi fono pero fertili/limi. Let.i^. Le Montague eV alii bien che ftatio alpefiri fono nondimeno 

 tutte frntilfcre per la dUrgenza degli agricoltori. Id. Lef. 3. 



Ζ Ζ Ζ Ζ Supplies, 



