in Syria^ Phoenice ^c. -^(S^ 



as it is ftill pradlifed all over Mount Libanus, the Caftravan 

 Mountains and Barhary ; in all which Places the higher Grounds 

 are fet apart for this Ufe, and the Plains and Valleys 

 for Tillage, For, befides the good Management and Oeco-^,„„.^;„j 

 nomy, there is this further Advantage, that the Milk ofCattle;-:.7.S" 

 fed in this Manner, is far more rich and delicious, as their '^''''''^'''"'* 

 Flefh is more fweet and nourifliing. But even laying afide the 

 Profits that might arife from grazing, fuch as Butter, Milk, 

 Wool, and the great Number of Cattle that were to be dayly 

 difpofed of, at Jerufalem, for common Food and Sacrifices; 

 thefe Mountainous Diftridls, I fay, would be highly valuable 

 upon other Confiderations, efpecially as they feem formerly to 

 have been planted all over with Olive Trees ; one Acre of which, f'' ^'r: 



'■ 7 ' tains flant- 



if rightly improved, is of more Value than twice the Extent ^^^^;'^^°^''7^ 

 of arable Ground. It may be prefumed likewife , that the '^'""• 

 Vine was not negledled, in a Soil and Expolition ' fo proper 

 for it to thrive in. The latter indeed, not being of fo durable 

 a Nature as the Olive Tree, and requiring moreover a conti- 

 nual Culture and Attendance ^ ; the Scruple likewife, which the 

 Mahometans entertain, of propagating a Fruit that may be ap- 

 plyed to Ufes forbidden by their Religion, are the Reafons 

 perhaps, why there are not many Tokens to be met with, except 

 at Jerufalem and Hehron\ of the antient Vineyards. Where- 

 as the general Benefit arifing from the Olive Tree, the Lon- 

 gjevity and Hardinefs of it, have continued down, to this Time, 

 feveral thoufands of them together, to mark out to us the 

 Poffibility of greater Plantations. Now if to thefe Produdions, several v^us 

 we joyn a great many hundred Acres of arable Ground, th^iGrouZ. ' 

 lyefcattered all over the Dales and Windings of the Mountains 



I JuvAt Ifmara Baccho 



Confcrere, atque olea magnum veftire Taburnum. Vtrg. Georg. 2. 1. 57. 

 -1 Jam vincl£ vites, jum falcem arbujia repommt, 



Jam canit extremes effatus vinitor antes j 



SoUicitanda tamen tellus, pulvifque movenius : 



Etjam maturis mettiendus Jupiter avis. 



Contra, non ulla eft eleis cultura : neque ilU 



Procurvam expeilant falcem, raftrofque tenaces, 



Cumfimel hiferunt arv'ts. Id. ibid. 1. 415. 



^ Betides, the great Qi^antity of Grapes and Raifins, that are, one or other of them, 

 brought dayly to the Markets of Jerufalem and the neighbouring Villages, Hebron alone fends 

 every Year to Egypt three hundred Camel-Loads, (i. e. near two thoufand Quintals) of the 

 Robb, which they call (_>«.^o i^^"^) Dibfe, the fame Word that is rendred Honey in the 

 Scriptures. Hebron has the Title of Hhaleel J.Ai^ i. e. the chofen or beloved among 

 the Arabs: the (M.ig-gar j\,k^ el Mamra) Czve o( Mamre ox Machpelab, (Gen. 23. 17.) 

 being lighted up with Lamps, and held in extraordinary Veneration by the Mahometans. 



JL T^%X 1, of 



