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forms a principal one of food to the inha- 

 bitants of the places where these trees are 

 found. This oil is contained in the pulp only, 

 whereas other fruits have it in the nut or ker- 

 nel. It is obtained by simple pressure, in 

 the following manner: the olives are first 

 bruised by a mill-stone, and afterwards put 

 into the trough of a press for the purpose, 

 which, by means of turning a strong screw, 

 forces all the liquor out, which is called virgin 

 oil. A coarser kind is obtained afterwards, 

 by adding hot water to the bruised fruit. 



The oil of olives seems to have been of 

 great utility to the ancients, since Aristaeus, 

 son of Apollo by Gyrene, was regarded as a 

 rural deity for having taught mankind to ex- 

 tract it, and also to make honey, cheese, and 

 butter. The wrestlers were anointed with it ; 

 and it was made a substitute for butter, which 

 among the Romans was used as a medicine. 



We find, in the book of Leviticus, that oil 

 formed a principal part of the meat offerings, 

 which the Israelites presented to the Lord : 

 " If thou bring an oblation of a meat offer- 

 ing baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened 

 cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or un- 

 leavened wafers anointed with oil. And if 

 thy oblation be a meat offering, baken in the 



