THE SUB-TROPICAL ZONE. 107 



medals of no less than four Koman emperors, 

 Vespasian, Titus, Doinitian, and Trajan, it is 

 employed as an emblem of the Hebrew nation, 

 or portions of it ; and the palm tree in Judsea 

 does still mournfully typify the desolate condi- 

 tion of the Hebrew people. It was prosper- 

 ous in their prosperous days, and has become 

 desolate with their desolation. Palestine is 

 not now the country of the palm ; Jericho, 

 anciently called " the city of palm trees," has 

 but few comparatively around it ; and scattered 

 over the land, two or three palm trees are 

 rarely seen together. Branches of the palm 

 were anciently used as symbols of victory and 

 triumph, both among Jews and Gentiles. Thus, 

 when our Lord rode in triumph into Jeru- 

 salem, the people " took branches of palm trees ? 

 and went forth to meet him, and cried, Ho- 

 sanna!" etc., John xii. 13. So, also, the 

 redeemed in heaven, in token of their ascrib- 

 ing victory to Him who conquered sin and 

 death, are represented as standing " before the 

 Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in 

 their hands." 



But we must hasten to notice some others. 

 The fields of Palestine are often studded in the 

 autumn with the Amaryllis lutea, a beautiful 

 plant of the lily tribe, resembling our crocus, 

 but larger. It sometimes covers whole acres of 

 ground with its brilliant flowers in September 

 and October, and is supposed to be the plant 

 alluded to by our Saviour, when he bade his 

 disciples " consider the lilies of the field, how 



