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JOURNAL R, A. S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. III. 



There are perhaps a hundred varieties of the Date tree culti- 

 vated, and those who have eaten of the beautiful, cleanly 

 preserved dates sent to England, cannot but have observed 

 the vast difference between them, and the two kinds we get 

 here. One of these comes in earthern pots, and is of a dark 

 shining appearance, and rather pleasant to eat ; but the other 

 comes in messes, and not freer of extraneous matter than 

 oriental sugar, which is never known to diminish in weight, 

 however often it is spilled before it gets to the Bazaar. 



The ancient Tadmor or Palmyra (built by Solomon and 

 destroyed by the Roman Emperor Aurelian,) was so named 

 from the number of the Date Palms which grew around it. 

 To the natives of portions of Africa and Arabia, it is of 

 greater consequence than the Coconut or Palmyra palms 

 are to the natives of Ceylon ; and hence, in former times, 

 during a war with these countries, the greatest curse that 

 could be inflicted upon them was to cut down the stameni- 

 ferous trees, which were very few in proportion to the fruit- 

 bearings ones, and so prevent the usual crop of dates. In 

 consequence of this barbarous practice, attempts were made 

 to secure a supply of the fertilizing pollen from the male 

 trees, and it is stated that this, secured in earthen vessels, 

 has been known to retain its fertilizing powers for 19 years. 



It is no doubt in inference to the barbarous practice of 

 cutting down such trees, that the following law was issued 

 in Dent. xx. 19: — 



" Thou shalt not cut down the trees thereof by forcing an 

 axe against them : for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt 

 not cut them down, for the tree of the field is man's life." 



In reference to this passage, the late Mr. Roberts, in his 

 a Illustrations of the Scriptures," wrote : — 



"Can it be a matter of surprise, that the Orientals have a great 

 aversion to cut down any tree which bears fruit, when it is known 

 that they principally live on vegetable production ? Ask a man to 



