in the Temperature of IFinter. 7 



printers, prevent the same preparations to defend against 

 cold, which are made in more northern latitudes. In 

 1741 — 2, the winter in Syria was very severe; and 

 that of 1756 — 7 sunk the mercury into the bulb, at Alep- 

 po ; multitudes of vines were killed, as were olives that 

 had stood fifty years. Many of the poorer people per- 

 ished with cold. In winters like that, I presume, ice is 

 formed in the mildest regions of Palestine.... *S'<?d' Loud, 

 Mag. 1764. 



That ordinary winters were far less severe, is obvious- 

 ly inferable from Exod. xxxv. 3. " Ye shall kindle no 

 fire throughout your habitations upon the Sabbath Day" 

 — an injunction which had reference to all seasons of the 

 year ; and which could not have been given in a climate 

 where fire was indispensable to the health and comfort of 

 the inhabitants. 



But the most positive evidence which can possibly ex- 

 ist to prove that the climate of Palestine has 7wt suffered 

 any increase of heat, for more than 3000 years, is the 

 production of certain fruits in the days of David, which 

 will not thrive in any but mild, warm countries ; as pom- 

 granates, olives and figs. The trees producing these 

 fruits are so often mentioned in Scripture, that it would 

 be idle to name the instances. They were in Judea in 

 the time of Moses in the greatest abundance ; for the 

 spies sent to explore the country, returned with pom- 

 granates and figs....A'w;?2i6. xiii. 23. 



We kiiovi' precisely the degree of heat necessary to, 

 bring these fruits to perfection : That is, a climate as 

 mild as South-Carolina and Georgia. Figs and olives 

 grow well in Virginia, says Mr. Jefferson, but are liable 

 to be killed by frost. We then ascertain beyond all con- 

 troversy, that Palestine, in the days of Moses, was as 

 warm a country as South Carolina and Georgia are in 

 this age. 



The palm-tree furnishes, also, a most clear and in- 

 contestible proof of the same fact. This tree will grow 

 and beiu' fruit, says Pliny, in the maritime parts of Spain, 

 but the dates have not the fine flavor of those which are 

 produced in Judea. In Europe, for instance in Italy, 

 they are barren. In Africa they come to perfection^ but 



