226 Phyfical and MifceJlaneous 



[Seedra >..] of the y^rahs ; a Shrub, which is very coinmon in 

 thefe Deferts and other V^ns oi Barhary, having the Leaves, 

 Prickles, Flower, and Fruit of the \_ZiziphHs'] Jujeh ; only 

 with this Difference, that the Fruit is round, fmaller and more 

 lufcious, at the fame Time the Branches are not fo joynted or 

 crooked, growing much like Thofe of the Taliums. This 

 Fruit is ftill in great Repute and fold in the Markets all over 

 the fouthern Diftrids of thefe Kingdoms. The ^rabs call It 

 ^neb enta El Seedra, or the Jujeb of the Seedra. 

 The Almond Moft of the Other Fruit Trees of this Country are common 

 ^'^^' in Europe : of which the Almond, the moft early Bearer, flowers 

 in January, and giveth It's Fruit in the Beginning of April. 

 The Apricot, Apricots are fit to gather in May, but the Safjee, a Species of 

 them, ufually of the Shape and Size of a Ne6tarine, with the 

 like Property alfo of not parting from the Stone, is fomewhat 

 later. The eating of the latter is never attended with a Sur- 

 feit ; whereas the common Apricot is very dangerous, occafi- 

 oneth a variety of Fevers, and Dyfenteries, and goeth in the 

 Frank Language by the Name of \^Matza Franka'] the Killer 

 of Chrijiians. In June They have two or three Species of 

 S c&y. Plums and Cherries^ yet none of them are either in plenty or 

 delicious. However the Cherry hath been formerly in fo much 

 Efteem, that It continueth to be called [^-i^*^^ c^=>- Hab El 

 The Muiber- Mellck'] The Berrj of the King. About this Time likewife 

 r^7pear^«^they have Mulberries, and fome Pears and Apples, though 

 Apple. |.j^g Height of the Seafon for the Latter is in July and yluguft, 

 when both of them are in Plenty and Variety enough, though 

 vaftly inferiour, in all Refpe6ts, to the more ordinary Kinds of 

 our Climate. The black and white Boccbre ' or early Figg, 

 (the fame we have in England, ) is a Fruit likewife of this 

 Month ; though the {Kermez) Fig, properly fo called, (which 

 they preferve and make up in Cakes %) is rarely ripe before 

 Auguft. I have alfo feen a lank dark coloured Fig, that hath 

 fometimes hung upon the Trees all the Winter. Neftarines 

 S'pSes- ^d Peaches appear towards the middle of July. The former 

 are much larger than ours and of a better Tafte; and the latter, 

 belides their excellent Flavour, will commonly weigh ten 

 Ounces. Auguft produceth the firft Pomegranates ; fome of 



I iJ^^^=\.i Hehr. miD3, Primus frudus & prjecox. Qo\. Significat ficum praecocem, 

 prodromum, five prothericam. Schind. L^x. Jerm 24. 2. Hof. p. 10. 2 i Sani.2^. li. 



which 



