76 SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



Again, mention is made of 



" The cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up*." 



Miller observes, that it is remarkable that, as far as 

 has come to our knowledge, the Cedar should not be 

 found as a native of any other part of the world than 

 Mount Lebanon ; but Martyn, in a later edition of Mil- 

 ler's Dictionary, says, " it is not only found on Mount 

 Lebanon, but Belon observed it on the mountains of 

 Amanus and Taurus."" 



Few of the trees now remain on Mount Lebanon ; nor 

 is it likely there should remain many, after the industrious 

 felling of fourscore thousand hewers employed there. 



" The spreading Cedar that an age had stood, 

 Supreme of trees, and mistress of the wood, 

 Cut down and carved, my shining roof adorns : 

 And Lebanon his ruined honour mourns." 



PRIOR'S Solomon. 



Ranwolff, in 1575, saw only twenty-four sound trees, 

 and two which were old and decayed. " We found our- 

 selves,' 1 says he, " upon the highest point of the mountain, 

 and saw nothing higher, but only a small hill before us 

 all covered with snow, at the bottom whereof the high 

 Cedar-trees were standing. And though this hill hath in 

 former ages been quite covered with Cedar-trees, yet they 

 are since so decreased, that I could tell no more but twenty- 

 four that stood round about in a circle ; and two others, 

 the branches whereof are quite decayed for age. I also 

 went about in this place to look for some young ones, but 

 could find none at all. These trees are green all the year 

 long, have strong stems that are several fathoms about, 

 and are as high as our fir-trees." 



* Isaiah, chap. ii. verse 13. 



