NAFOLOSE* 
30# 
There is nothing in the Holy Laud finer than the view of 
Napolose, from the heights around it. As the traveller des¬ 
cends toward it from the hills, it appears luxuriantly embo¬ 
somed in the most delightful and fragrant bowers; half conceal¬ 
ed by rich gardens, and by stately trees collected into groves, 
all around the bold and beautiful valley in which it stands. 
Trade seems to flourish among its inhabitants. Their princi¬ 
pal employment is in making soap; but the manufactures ©f 
the town supply a very widely extended neighbourhood, and 
they are exported to a great distance, upon camels. In the 
morning after our arrival, we met caravans coming from Grand 
Cairo ; and noticed others reposing in the large olive planta¬ 
tions near the gatei* The reader must be referred to the 
learned Reland, who wishes to know the various names pos¬ 
sessed by this city, in different periods of its history; as well 
as to ascertain which among these ought to be considered as 
its peculiar and most appropriate appellation.* Every thing 
concerning it is interesting; but upon this subject, if all that 
Reland alone has written, in more than one part of his match¬ 
less work, was duly considered, the investigation w ould of it¬ 
self constitute a copious dissertation. It is sufficient for the 
traveller to he informed, that, so long ago as the twelfth centu¬ 
ry, the elegant and perspicuous Phocas, himself visiting the 
place, and describing the city, speaks of itf as “ Sichak, the 
metropolis of the Samaritans, afterward called Ncapolis” 
Reland, from Josephus, Eusebius, Epiphanies, and Jerom,J 
writes it Sichem.§ According to the ancient Hebrew text of 
ing the dislike of certain readers to any detail concerning the diet and accommoda¬ 
tions of travellers upon their journey. For a similar reason, a few words may be al¬ 
lowed concerning the watermelons of Napolose; because, although the name of that 
species of fruit, is familiar, nothing can be more rare than the fruit itself in a state of 
perfection. Water melons are found npqrj most of the shores of the Mediterranean; 
but no one can be said to know any thing of their excellence, w ho has not tasted them 
in the Holy Land. Those of Napoloseand of Jaffa attain a degree of maturity and 
flavour so extraordinary, that the watermelons of Egypt, Cyprus, Rhodes, of Asia 
Minor, Greece, Italy, and Sicily, do not appear to be the same sort of fruit. Some¬ 
thing, as yet unnoticed in the nature of the soil, is necessary for the favourable 
growth of this plant; for it is evidently not owing to peculiarity of latitude. It's 
medical property, as a febrifuge, has only been admitted of late years. The physi¬ 
cians of Naples have used its fruit with success, even in dangerous cases ; but per¬ 
haps that which might afford a cure in one climate, would, from the different quality 
of the fruit itself, be deleterious in another. 
* Reland. Palaest. Illustrat. lib. iii. tom. II. p. 1004. Traj. Bat 1714. 
1*H 7uiv Hafxaptuv piirpoTroAis n pna tafijra xAtfoia'a Nid 7 r 0 .An xnguvf ntsov d6o 
fj>avwy. “ Samaritanorum metropolis Sukar: cui postmodum Neapoli nomen foil,; 
inter duos montes sita.” Phocqy Dcscr. T. S. cap. 13. p. 17. apud, Leo. Allat. Erppt, 
Colon. 1653. 
X “ Transivit Sickejn, (non ut plerique errantus legunt Sicriar,) quae nunc Ntapolis 
appellator.” Hieronymus in Epiiaphio Paulae. Rel Palaest Jib" iii. io?n , IX "p. I0u7, 
* Rebind. Pal^s*. illust. lib, iii, tom, IX, p. 1004, 
