138 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



" And still, when the merry date season is burning, 



And calls to the palm-groves the young and the old, 

 The happiest there, from their pastime returning 

 At sunset, will weep when thy story is told." 



T. Moore. 



The Arabs eat dates without seasoning, for they have a 

 very agreeable taste when they are fresh, and afford 

 wholesome nourishment. These people dry and harden 

 them in the sun, to reduce them to a kind of meal, which 

 they preserve for food when they undertake long journeys 

 across the deserts ; and they will subsist a considerable 

 time on this simple nourishment : pieces of the date- 

 bread diluted in water afford a refreshing beverage. The 

 Arabs likewise strip the bark and fibrous parts from the 

 young date-trees, and eat the substance that is in the 

 centre. It is very nourishing, and has a sweet taste, and 

 they call it the marrow of the date-tree : they also eat 

 the leaves when they are young and tender, mixed with 

 lemon-juice, as a salad. The male flowers are also eaten, 

 when tender, in the same manner. The fruit, before it is 

 ripe, is somewhat astringent, but when thoroughly ma- 

 ture, is of the nature of the fig. A white liquor, known 

 by the name of date-milk, is drawn from the palm-tree. 

 To obtain it, all the branches are cut from the summit of 

 one of these trees ; and after several incisions have been 

 made in it, they are covered with leaves, in order that 

 the heat of the sun may not dry it : the sap then drops 

 into a vessel placed to receive the liquor. The milk of 

 the date-tree has an agreeable sweet taste when new : it 

 is very refreshing, and is given even to sick people. 



Even the stones of dates, though very hard, are not 

 thrown away : they are bruised and laid in water to soften, 

 when they become good food for sheep and camels. In 

 Barbary, the Mahometans turn these stones, and form 

 handsome beads for the pater-nosters of the Christians. 



