BATE. 139 



The Egyptians make an agreeable conserve of the fresh 

 dates and sugar. The Arabs weave mats and other things 

 of the same kind from the old leaves ; and from the fila- 

 ments which arise from the stumps of the branches, they 

 fabricate both ropes and sails. 



Among the trees of Egypt there is none more common 

 than the date-tree, both on the sands and on the cul- 

 tivated districts. It requires no attention, and is very 

 profitable, the fruit being in great demand, particularly 

 that in the neighbourhood of Rosetta, which is delicious. 

 The branches are cut off with the dates upon them before 

 they are thoroughly ripe, and thrust into baskets made for 

 the purpose, which have no other aperture than a hole, 

 through which the branches project. The dates thus 

 packed up, ripen in succession, and boats are laden with 

 them, and sent to Cairo. Could they not be brought to 

 England in this state ? 



The Mahometans, whose religion forbids their use of 

 wine or spirituous liquors, extract from dates a strong 

 beverage, to which they give a medicinal name, as we 

 might say stomach or cholic water ; and this is made more 

 savoury with aromatic spices, according to the rank of 

 those who thus endeavour to cheat their prophet. Apo- 

 thecaries who are the venders of these comfortable 

 draughts make large fortunes in Constantinople. 



The Persians extract a most ardent spirit from this 

 fruit. The nectar of the dates, as drunk by the sovereigns" 

 of Congo, is also a pure spirit obtained from the fer- 

 mented dates. 



The timber is so durable that it is thought incorruptible 

 by the natives. It is used for making beams and imple- 

 ments of husbandry, as also for javelins ; and the trees 

 often grow to a hundred feet in height. There are but 

 few trees which are used for so many valuable purposes, 

 and we know of none where the sexual distinctions are 





