far above ilie dense mass of' foliage amongst which it 
grows. Its graceful beauty, however, is but a secondary 
consideration ; for when the country is under water — 
a circumstance of frequent occurrence — it affords both 
food and habitation to the natives. The whole scene is 
thus forcibly described by the poet: — 
“ Wide o’er his isles the branching Oronoque 
Rolls a brown deluge; and the native drives 
To dwell aloft on life-sustaining trees, 
At once his dome, his robe, his food, and arms.” 
Valuable, however, as this species is, it yields in im¬ 
portance to the cocoa-nut, sago, and date palms; more 
especially the latter, par eminence, the palm of the an¬ 
cients ; the cultivation of which, throughout the East 
is considered a matter of great moment. Indeed, “ in 
the interior of Barbary, Egypt, Arabia, and the dry dis¬ 
tricts of Syria, it is almost the sole object of agriculture; 
and the date harvest is anticipated with as much anxiety, 
and, when a plentiful one, is attended with as general 
rejoicing, as the vintage in the South of Europe.” And 
no wonder; for “ this tree alone,” as Raleigh says, 
“ giveth unto man whatsoever his life beggeth at nature’s 
hand; ” forming, either in a fresh or prepared state, 
the chief sustenance of the inhabitants durum ten 
O 
