Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
species in Syria. There is also the carob or locust tree (Ceratonia siliqua), the pine, sycamore,
poplar and walnut. Of planted trees large shrubs the first in importance is the vine, which is most
abundantly cultivated all over the country, and produces, as in the time of the Canaanites, enormous
bunches of grapes. This is especially the case in the southern districts, those of Eshcol being still
particularly famous. Next to the vine, or even in some respects its superior in importance, ranks
the olive, which nowhere grows in greater luxuriance and abundance than in Palestine, where the
olive orchards form a prominent feature throughout the landscape, and have done so from time
immemorial. The fig forms another most important crop in Syria and Palestine. (Besides these are
the almond, pomegranate, orange, pear, banana, quince and mulberry among fruit trees. Of
vegetables there are many varieties, as the egg plant, pumpkin, asparagus, lettuce, melon and
cucumber. Palestine is especially distinguished for its wild flowers, of which there are more than
five hundred varieties. The geranium, pink, poppy, narcissus, honeysuckle, oleander, jessamine,
tulip and iris are abundant. The various grains are also very largely cultivated.—ED.)
•Zoology.—It will be sufficient in this article to give a general survey of the fauna of Palestine, as
the reader will find more particular information in the several articles which treat of the various
animals under their respective names. Jackals and foxes are common; the hyena and wolf are also
occasionally observed; the lion is no longer a resident in Palestine or Syria. A species of squirrel
the which the term orkidaun “the leaper,” has been noticed on the lower and middle parts of
Lebanon. Two kinds of hare, rats and mice, which are said to abound, the jerboa, the porcupine,
the short-tailed field-mouse, may be considered as the representatives of the Rodentia . Of the
Pachydermata the wild boar, which is frequently met with on Taber and Little Hermon, appears
to be the only living wild example. There does not appear to be at present any wild ox in Palestine.
Of domestic animals we need only mention the Arabian or one-humped camel, the ass, the mule
and the horse, all of which are in general use. The buffalo (Bubalus buffalo) is common. The ox
of the country is small and unsightly in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, but in the richer pastures
the cattle, though small, are not unsightly The common sheep of Palestine is the broadtail, with
its varieties. Goats are extremely common everywhere. Palestine abounds in numerous kinds of
birds. Vultures, eagles, falcons, kites, owls of different kinds represent the Raptorial order. In the
south of Palestine especially, reptiles of various kinds abound. It has been remarked that in its
physical character Palestine presents on a small scale an epitome of the natural features of all
regions, mountainous and desert, northern and tropical, maritime and inland, pastoral, arable and
volcanic.
•Antiquities .—In the preceding description allusion has been made to many of the characteristic
features of the holy land; but it is impossible to close this account without mentioning a defect
which is even more characteristic—its luck of monuments and personal relies of the nation which
possessed it for so many centuries and gave it its claim to our veneration and affection. When
compared with other nations of equal antiquity—Egypt, Greece Assyria—the contrast is truly
remarkable. In Egypt and Greece, and also in Assyria, as far as our knowledge at present extends,
we find a series of buildings reaching down from the most remote and mysterious antiquity, a
chain of which hardly a link is wanting, and which records the progress of the people in civilization
art and religion as certainly as the buildings of the medieval architects do that of the various nations
of modern Europe. But in Palestine it is not too much to say that there does not exist a single
edifice or part of an edifice of which we call be sure that it is of a date anterior to the Christian
era. And as with the buildings, so with other memorials, With one exception, the museums of
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William Smith