THE POMEGRANATE. 33 



immense quantity of liquid flows, which speedily ferments, 

 and, upon being distilled, yields an inferior variety of 

 Arrack. The wood of the date-palm will be described in 

 its proper place. 



Whenever the palm is mentioned in Scripture, the date- 

 palm is always intended. Its cultivation has, from the ear- 

 liest commencement of the historic period, been an object of 

 importance in Northern Africa and various parts of Asia. 

 Burckhardt, in his Travels in Arabia, speaks of the date- 

 palm as forming the chief wealth of the inhabitants. The 

 trees are hereditary, and sold as estates ; and the wedding 

 portion of a bride is often in date-trees. The quantity of 

 dates imported into England is small, seldom exceeding ten 

 or twelve tons per annum. 



Pomegranate. — The fruit of Tunica Granatum. (Nat. 

 Ord. Myrtacea.) (Plate IV. fig. 19.) 



A shrub, forming extensive woods in Persia, and much 

 cultivated in the warmer parts of Europe. The fruit is 

 about the size of a large poppy-head, and not unlike it in 

 shape ; the rind is leathery, or more like a corky bark, but 

 when ripe and fresh it is beautifully coloured of a golden 

 yellow, with a rosy tinge on one side ; when opened, it con- 

 tains a number of carpels, having the appearance of red 



