CEDRUS LIBANI 
were scattered very sparsely with old riven and half-decayed Junipers, and a few aged Pinus Halepensis , while the Cedars were all collected on 
this hill.” (Tristram, op. cit., p. 6-8.) 
The third and last discovery was made almost immediately afterwards:— 
“ An hour afterwards, as we crossed the next ridge, and came to one of the feeders of the Dunzeir, we noticed that the wild gorge to our 
right was clad from top to bottom with a scattered forest of trees, which, when examined through the glass, appeared too spreading and flat- 
topped for Pines. In spite of Hammond’s angry remonstrance against our wandering we knew not whither, we pushed on for the ravine. It was 
too elevated, as well as too rugged, to encourage any attempt at cultivation, even by the mountaineers of the Lebanon, and has remained, 
untouched by man, one of the last refuges of the Syrian bear. The trees were all Cedars, grouped in clusters or scattered in every variety of 
situation, some clinging to the steep slopes, or gnarled and twisted on the bare hill-tops, others sheltered in the recesses of the dell. Lowndes 
climbed one of the larger trees, and brought down some cones in triumph. The largest tree might be 15 or 18 feet in circumference, but none 
that we saw approached the patriarchs of the Grove, either in size or magnificence. Still there was Cedar enough here to have rebuilt Solomon’s 
Temple. We have now discovered it in two mountain valleys, growing in every variety of situation. . . . Nor are the four places I have referred 
to the only spots where the Cedar of Lebanon still lingers. I have good authority for stating that it is also found abundantly scattered about 
Duma, a place five hours south-west of Hadith. More interesting still is its existence in a far distant part of the mountain. In one of the glens 
to the north of Deir El Kamar, the antient stronghold of the Druses up the course of the Nahr El Baruk, south-east of Bhamdun, near the 
village of Ain Zahalteh, are many scattered trees and small clumps. Probably a careful search among the western roots of the Lebanon would 
result in the discovery of many more relics of the primeval forest.” (Tristram, op. cit., p. 629.) 
Mr. Tristram modestly disclaims any priority of discovery in regard to these new habitats; but, as 
it appears to us, in doing so he neither does justice to himself nor his companions. One of the new 
localities certainly belongs entirely to his party; and we do not see that he has any grounds for holding, 
as he does, that both of the other new groves were those which had been recorded by Seetzen. The first 
may have been, but we see no indications that either of the others was. Mr. Tristram’s own conclusion 
regarding the distribution of Cedars in that district, as stated in the first edition of his “ Land of Israel,” 
was that they might yet be found in far greater abundance than he has ventured to suggest. 
His anticipation in this respect has been already amply verified. Before leaving Syria, he interested 
the American Missionaries at Beyrout in the subject, and pointed out to them the probable localities. We 
learn from a note to the second edition of his work (page 634) that his friends had made several excursions 
in the interior, and one of them, Mr. Jessop, had found five additional localities, three of great extent east 
of Ain Zahalteh, in the southern Lebanon, and situate far to the south, with a wide break between them 
and “the Grove.” He found that this new habitat recently contained some 10,000 trees, but unfortunately 
the Sheik of the district had got a concession of the forest from the local authorities, for the purpose of 
extracting pitch, and destroyed several thousand trees in the attempt, which proving, as might have been 
anticipated, unsuccessful, retributive justice fell upon him, and he was utterly ruined by the speculation, 
although not until he had perpetrated his vandalism very effectually.* Mr. Jessop found that one of the 
stumps in this forest (it cannot be called a grove) measured 13 feet in diameter, that is 39 feet in circum¬ 
ference, a size not greatly short of that of the largest tree in “ the Grove,” which was 40^ feet in circum¬ 
ference 5 feet from the ground. The stump in question would probably be nearer the ground. This 
forest is full of young Cedar trees, springing up with great vigour. 
There are two other large groves containing many thousand trees, one above El Baruk and another 
near Maasir. He reports these trees as very large, and equal to any others. They are being sadly 
destroyed for firewood near Duma. Mr. Jessop also discovered a second grove, near where Mr. Tristram 
discovered a grove, or rather glen of Cedar, on the western slopes of Lebanon. What is perhaps of still 
greater interest, two small groves have been found on the eastern slope of Lebanon, overlooking the 
Bukaa above El Medenk. This is the first indication that the Cedars may have covered both sides of 
Lebanon in former times, as we see that they do both sides of Anti-Taurus in the same line. We have 
* In the Garde 7 ier‘s Chronicle of September 24, 1881, will be found an extract from the Vienna Politische Correspondem, from which we learn the gratifying fact that steps have 
recently been taken by the Governor-General of the Lebanon for the preservation of what now remains of these venerable trees. The article proceeds-: “ The once famous Cedar 
forest of Lebanon, formerly so extensive, has dwindled down to the dimensions of a mere thicket, numbering about 400 trees. To save it from complete destruction, and preserve 
it at least in its present extent, Rustem Pacha, the Governor-General of the Lebanon, has issued a special ordinance, containing a series of stringent regulations calculated to check, if 
not quite to put a stop to, the vandalism and carelessness of most travellers. It is expressly forbidden to put up tents, or other kinds of shelter, within the district of the trees, or to 
light fires, or to cook any provisions in their vicinity. No one is allowed to break off a bough or even a twig from the trees. It is forbidden to bring any beasts of burthen, be they 
horses, mules, asses, or any other kind of animal, within the district. Should oxen, sheep, goat, or other pasturage cattle, be found within the prescribed limits, they will be irredeem¬ 
ably confiscated.” 
[33] 
D 
thus 
