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in Italy, and is by some supposed to be the 

 fruit by which the companions of Ulysses 

 were enchanted, and forgot their native 

 country. 



Italy, and the coast of Spain, have been 

 renowned for palm-trees more than two thou- 

 sand years : " but the dates/' says Plinj', 

 " never come to maturity or ripeness, nor 

 were they ever known to grow without being 

 planted :" this caused him to state that they 

 were foreign trees. 



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 di- 

 luted in water afford a refreshing beverage. 

 The Arabs likewise strip the bark and fi- 

 brous 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 



