FAUNA AND FLORA OF SINAI, PETRA, AND WADY 'ARABAH, 67 



once so uncertain and so unpalatable, had better perhaps not be indulged 

 in. They can only lead to doubt and discussion. Granted that the 

 'osher' is known by the Bedawin ' Doctrine of Signatures' as a plant of 

 domestic value, may we not theorize as to whether wandering tribes 

 have not carried it from Midian or Nubia to Sinai ? from Sinai to its far 

 northern home in the Ghor ? and so with many others.* 



The gardens at Jaffa were fully supplied with its own brand of most 

 excellent oranges. 



CHAPTER XII. 



JERUSALEM. 



Between Ramleh (a few miles from Jaffa) and Jerusalem, during an 

 ascent of over 2,000 feet, many fresh species occurred. The chief change 

 in plant life lay in the great increase of low shrubby vegetation on the 

 limestone hills and terraces. I had little time to botanize, but with 

 hard galloping to make up for delays, I secured several sorts in condition 

 to be studied. An oak, Quercus cocci/era, Linn., and the handsome large- 

 leafed arbutus in full flower. Arbutus andrachne, Linn., are two conspicuous 

 trees or bushes characteristic of the rocky regions above the plain of 

 Ramleh, A large daisy, Bellis sylvestris, Cyr., similar except in size to 

 our own Bellis perennis, was in flower. The handsome locust-tree, 

 usually here of only the stature of a bush from being cut for firing like the 

 others, is very frequent. Its rich dark green pinnate foliage is well 

 known to travellers in Southern Europe, where its pods are much used to 

 feed cattle. This is supposed to be the ' locust ' of St. John. At Kirjath- 

 jearim a solitary date-palm occurs, and I was informed at Jerusalem that 

 near this a clump of native pines, Pinus halepensis, Linn., exists. Maiden- 

 hair, ceterach, and the sweet Cheilanthes, were the ferns gathered, 

 chiefly amongst the limestone clefts above Bib el Wad. A handsome sage. 

 Salvia triloba, I., was in flower, and several other labiates, as Phlomis,sp. (.?); 



* Professor Drummond, speaking of the slave-hunting Arabs in 'Tropical Africa' (p. 71, 

 ed. 1888), says : ' They plant the seeds of their favourite vegetables and fruits . . . the Arab 

 always carries seed with him ... as if they meant to stay for ever.' 



9—2 



