J70 Phyfical Ohfervations &ic. 



was too early, when I was in the Hofy Land, to fee it,) ihould be 



a Species of the JVingedTea \ perhaps the Hierazune or xhQ Lotus 



tetragonolohis of the Botamβs. It is certain that the Bloom of 



all or moft of the luguminous Plants yields a grateful Smell ; a 



Quality which the Scriptures ' attribute to the Plant we 



are looking after. 



funtthfsef. The Boccore, as I have before obferved, was far from being 



foHfor Pigs. jj;j ^ fl-^te of Maturity in the latter end of March: for, in the 



Scripture ExpreiTion, theTtme of Figs was not yet, or not before 



the middle or latter end οι June. However it frequently falls 



out in Barhary, and we need not doubt of the like Circum- 



ftance in this much hotter Chmate, that, according to the 



Quality of the preceding Seafon, fome of the more forward 



and vigorous Trees will now and then yield a few ripe Figs a 



Month, fix Weeks or more before the full Seafon. No fooner 



J^^.f~^^doth the Boccore draw near to Perfedlion, than the Kermez or 



'/ // Auguft. Summer Fig ( the fame that is preferved and fold by the 



Grocers,) begins to be formed, though it rarely ripeneth before 



^ugufl : about which Time the fame Tree frequently throws. 



The muter out a third Crop, or the Winter Fig as we may call it. This 



fu^Tfr/c'e is ufually of a much longer Shape, and darker Complexion than 



'/ii sprws. ^^^ Kermez, hanging and ripening upon the Tree, even after 



the Leaves are ilied ; and, provided the Winter proves mild 



and temperate, is gathered as a delicious Morfel in the Spring. 



It is well known that the Fruit of this prolific Plant doth always 



precede the Leaves ; and confequcntly when Our Saviour, faw 



one of therrij in full Vigour, having Leaves, {Mar. ii. 13.) he 



might, according to the common Courfe of Things, veryjuftly 



look for Fruit, and haply find fome, of the former or the latter 



Kind, in Perfeftion. 



TheU. Land Scvcral Parts of the Holy Land, no lefs than of Idumea ' that 



fflxree! lyes contiguous to it, are defcribed by the Antients to abound 



with Date Trees. Thus Jude a, \^\\ich. denoted the whole Country 



of the Jews, is typified, in feveral Coins ' of Vejpafians, by a 



difconiblate Woman fitting under a Palm Tree. Upon the 



1 The Mandrakes give a Smell. Cant. 7• 13. 



2 Primus Idamaeas referam tib'i Mantua Palmas. Ing. Georg. 5. 1. 12. 



Arbnft'is Palmarum dives Idume. Ltu:. 1. 3. 



Prangat Idumxas triflis ViBoria. Palmas. Mart. Ep. I.13. Ep.fo._ 



3 Vid. Occonis Imperat. Roman. Numifni exhibits ftudio & cura Franc. Mediobarbi &c, 

 p. no, III, 112, 113. Amfl.i7i7. 



Greek 



