THE SUB-TROPICAL ZONE. 109 



tree, most probably the Juniperus oxyeedrus; 

 Theophrastus describes a species of jumper as 

 bearing the name of " cedar," being peculiar 

 to Syria and Phoenicia, and used for nauti- 

 cal purposes, thus agreeing with Ezek. xxvii. 

 5, " They have taken cedars from Lebanon to 

 make masts for thee." Various trees of this 

 kind inhabit Palestine, some of which afford 

 excellent timber ; among others, the Scotch fir,, 

 (Pinus sylvestris,) and it is believed Pinus la- 

 ricio, P. halepensis, and P. orientalis also. 



Another remarkable tree is the olive, which' 

 gives its name to Mount Olivet. It is truly an 

 interesting and curious fact, that during a 

 period of little less than three thousand years, 

 Hebrews, Assyrians, Eomans, Moslems, and 

 Christians, have been successively in posses- 

 sion of the rocky mountains of Palestine ; 

 yet the olive still vindicates its paternal soil, 

 and it is found at this day upon the same 

 spot which was called by the Hebrew writers 

 the Mount of Olives, 1100 years before the 

 Christian era. The wood of the olive is beau- 

 tifully veined, it takes a high polish, and 

 having an agreeable smell, is much esteemed 

 for ornamental work. The appearance of the 

 tree is not unlike that of our willcws, but the 

 fruit, which is its chief value, is like a damson 

 to the eye, with a soft oily pulp, and a hard 

 stone in the centre. From this fruit the oil is 

 procured by expression, the pulp having been 

 first ground in a mill. The best oil is obtained 

 from Italy, Sicily, and Provence, and throughout 

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