'242 
claake’s travels. 
to Carmel. The land, uncultivated as it almost every where 
appeared in Djezzar’s dominions, was redundantly fertile, and 
much covered with a plant exhibiting large blossoms of aggre¬ 
gated white flowers, resembling those of the wild parsley : I 
believe it to have been the cachrys lihamiis . Of all the plants 
we noticed during our journey, this is the only one we neglect¬ 
ed to add to our herbarium , from the absurd notion that what 
appeared so common might be had any where, and at any time. 
It disappeared when our distance from the sea was much in- 
creased. The variety and beauty of the different species of 
cardans, or thistle, in this country, are well w orth notice; a 
never failing indication of rich soil in any land, but here mani¬ 
festing the truth of Jacob’s prophecy, who foretold the “ fatness 
of the bread of Asher,” and the “ royal dainties” of his terri¬ 
tory.* We observed one in particular, whose purple head co¬ 
vered all the inland parts of Palestine with its gorgeous hue. 
After we had quitted the valley, and ascended the hill, we ar¬ 
rived about eight p. m. at the agha’s mansion, the chief of the 
village. Being conducted up a rude flight of steps, to the 
top of the house, we found, upon the flat roof, the agha of 
Shefharrier sealed upon a carpet; mats being spread before 
him, for our reception. Bjezzar had despatched couriers to the 
aghas and sheiks in all places w here we w T ere instructed to 
halt, that provisions might be ready, as for himself, when we 
arrived. Without this precaution, a large party would be io 
danger of starving. The peasants of the country are wofully 
oppressed ; and w hat little they have, would be carefully con¬ 
cealed, unless extorted from them by the iron rod of such a ty- 
xant as Djezzar. Judging by the appearance our supper pre¬ 
sented, a stranger might have fancied himself in a land of abun¬ 
dance. They brought boiled chickens, eggs, boiled rice, and 
bread; this last article, being made into thin cakes, is either 
dried in the sun, or baked upon hot stones.f They prepare it 
it written Chcffhambre . Thus is there no end to the discordance caused by writing 
the names of places merely as they seem to be pronounced; particularly among tra¬ 
vellers of different countries, when each individual adapts an orthography suited to 
liis own language. 
* Genesis, xlix. 20. 
•j- The account given by the Chevalier d'Arvieiix (in the narrative of his very inte¬ 
resting travels, as they were published by De La Roque ) concerning one mode of 
making bread among the Arabs, seems to illustrate a passage in the Psalms, “ Or ei'er 
your pots be made hot with thorns (Ps. lviii. 8.) According to d’Arvieux, the Arabs 
Jheat stone pitchers by kindling fires in them, and then dab the outside with dough, 
which is thus baked. “ They kindle says he, “ afire in a large stone pitcher: and when 
it is hot , they mix the meal in mater , as me do to make paste , and dab it with the hollow 
of their hands upon the outside of the pitcher , and this soft pappy dough spread* and is 
baked in an instant : the heat of the pitcher having dried up all its moisture , the bread 
c$mes off in small thin slices , like one of our wafers.” Voyage fait par ordre du Roy. 
JLouis XIV. c. siv. p. 283. Par. 1717. See also the English edition, Pond 1723. 
: e. xiv. p. 201. 
