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on this fruit for subsistence. In this part 

 of the world, forests of date-trees may be 

 seen, some of which are several leagues iri 

 circumference. The Grecian and Roman 

 authors have given full accounts of this 

 fruit. It is related that Alexander's army 

 having met with dates of such a delicious 

 quality, many, who could riot forbear eat- 

 ing too plentifully, died. There is one 

 kind of date described by the ancient 

 authors, that would inebriate and overturn 

 the brain. 



The Babylonian, or Royal Dates, were 

 most esteemed : these, in ancient times, 

 were reserved for the kings of Persia, and are 

 said to have grown only in one hortyard or 

 park at Babylon, which was annexed to the 

 Persian crown. The dates at Jericho, in 

 Jewry, were also in high estimation with 

 the ancients, who made both bread and 

 wine of them. Pliny, who has written at 

 great length upon this fruit, mentions forty- 

 nine kinds of dates, varying according to the 

 country where they grew; some of which 

 were white, black, or brown, some were 

 round, others in the shape of a finger, some 

 very small, and others he describes as being 

 as large as the pomegranate. One species 

 of the date, the Lotus, was much cultivated 

 2 



