DATE.-DACTYLUS. 



A Species of the Palma, or Palm Tree. 

 Date Tree, Phamix Dactylifera. In Bo- 

 tany, of the Dicecia Triandria Class. 



THE palm-tree is a native of the eastern 

 countries, and has been known to grow in 

 the deserts of Arabia and Syria from the 

 earliest ages. Dates appear to have been 

 the first food which the Israelites found 

 in the wilderness of Shur. " And they 

 came to Elim, where were twelve wells of 

 water, and threescore and ten palm-trees; 

 and they encamped there by the waters/' 

 (Exodus, chap. xv. verse 27-) The ancients 

 esteemed dates next to the vine and olive. 



The palm-trees are very lucrative to the 

 Arabs and other inhabitants of the desert, 

 where the fruit forms a principal part of 

 their food, particularly in all that part of the 

 Zaara which is near Mount Atlas, where 

 they grow but little corn, and chiefly depend 



