30 BEES IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



having found its way by the teaching or leading of its 

 instinct. This is, indeed, far more wonderful than 

 what bees can do, but it is example of the same kind 

 of instinct, f 



CHAPTER IX. 



BEES IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



Before we think more especially of English bees 

 and bee-keeping, it will be interesting to look into 

 some of the records of the long-ago past, and to see 

 what was known of bees in the earlier ages of the 

 world, and how far they were valued. 



With this object in view, we look first at the Bible, 

 and there again and again, in almost all parts, we find 

 some mention or allusion to bees, or honey, or honey- 

 comb. And we are led to think that, as in these 

 days, the Holy Land had a very valuable race of 

 bees, which greatly abounded, and gave honey held 

 in high estimation and largely used as food. 



In the very early days of the Patriarchs we know 

 that the honey of the country was esteemed of 

 sufficient value to form part of the ' present ' which 

 Jacob sent down into Egypt by his sons to appease 

 the ruler of the land, his own son Joseph, that so he 

 might send away his other son and Benjamin. The 

 ' present ' was a ' a little balm and a little honey, 

 spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.' Again, in 

 Ezek. xxvii. 17, we read of honey as a distinct article 



