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eaten, when tender, in the same manner. 

 The fruit before it is ripe is somewhat as- 

 tringent, but when thoroughly mature, is of 

 the nature of the fig. A white liquor, 

 known by the name of date-milk, is drawn 

 from the palm-tree. To obtain it, all the 

 branches are cut from the summit of one of 

 these trees ; and after several incisions have 

 been made in it, they are covered with leaves, 

 in order that the heat of the sun may not 

 dry it: the sap then drops into a vessel 

 placed to receive the liquor. The milk of 

 the date-tree has an agreeable sweet taste 

 when new : it is very refreshing, and is 

 given even to sick people. Thus has 

 Providence reared a blessing in the sanely 

 desert for the wanderer. 



Even the stones of dates, though very 

 hard, are not thrown away : they are bruised 

 and laid in water to soften, when they 

 become good food for sheep and camels. 



The Egyptians make an agreeable con- 

 serve of the fresh dates and sugar. The 

 Arabs weave mats and other things of the 

 same kind from the old leaves; and from 

 the filaments which arise from the stumps 

 of the branches, they fabricate both ropes 

 and sails. 



Among the trees of Egypt, there is none 



L 



