2197. [10.] Figs, when dried in the oven (Ezek. xlvi. 20), furnish, with a little barley-bread, the principal sustenance of the numerous and finely-formed inhabitants of the islands of the Archipelago. The wild fig-tree, the caprificus, the ornos (the ass) of the isles of the Archipelago, resembles, in all its parts, the domestic fig-tree (ficus sativa), of which it appears to be, in some measure, only a variety. But it bears fruits that serve for caprification: This operation consists in suspending in different parts of a domesticated fig-tree, several wild figs strung on a thread. The flies or guats which issue from thesc, introduce themselves into the umbilicus of the domestic figs, and by their punctures cause in them a fermentation which accelerates their ripening, in the same manner as worm-eaten fruits always ripen before those that are sound. This caprification, which is only used for the late-ripe species of fig-trees, is particularly forbidden in ch. vi. 23, following.

It is to be remarked that the heat of the sun, which is sufficient to dry the figs that have not been caprificated, is not so for those that have undergone this operation. They must be dried in the oven; which gives them a disagreeable taste, but is necessary to destroy the eggs of the insects which they contain.

See BOISGELIN's Malta, vol. i. pp. 138-148.

2198. [13.] IGNATIUS RHEINFELDEN and BOCHART affirm, that Syria and Palestine produce honey-canes, from which they procure sugar.

2199. [14.] On the seventh day of the week, when the Jews were crowding apace to their synagogue, a

certain man of Cesarea, of a seditious temper, got an earthen vessel, and set it with the bottom upward at the entrance of that synagogue, and sacrificed birds. This thing provoked the Jews to an incurable degree, because their laws were affronted, and the place was polluted. (JOSEPH. War b. ii. ch. xiv. § 5. voi. v.) — Their sacrifices were of the fruit of the Vine, Lev. xix. 24. Hos. x. 1.

2200. [Lev. i. 14-17.] Raisins are of two sorts. Those which are called sun-raisins are made thus: When the grapes are almost ripe, the stalk is cut half through, so that the sap may not penetrate further, but yet the bunch of grapes may remain suspended by the stalk. The sun, by darting on them, candies † and dries them. The second sort is made after the following manner: When the Vines are pruned, the tendrils are preserved till the time of vintage; a great fire is made, wherein those tendrils are burnt, and in the lye, made of their ashes (SWINBURNE, in his Travels through Spain, p. 208, says, of urine and ashes), the newly gathered grapes are dipped, after which they are exposed to the sun to dry, which renders them fit for use. (Travels through Portugal and Spain in 1772 and 1773 by RICHARD TWISS Esquire, F. R. S. p. 334.) At Sidonijah, distant four hours' journey from Damascus, the grapes are of a remarkable size, the berries of some being as large as a pigeon's egg, and of a very exquisite taste: sent to Europe in a dried state, they are known by the name of Damask

2206.

Trav. vol. ii. p. 5.

The bread used by Brahmins, in its simple state, is prepared from the flour of wheat, juarree, or bahjeree: besides which they are very fond of a thin cake, or wafer, called popper, made from the flour of oord, or mash (phaseolus max) highly seasoned with asafoetida; a salt called popper-khor; and a very hot massaula, composed of turmeric, black pepper, ginger, garlic, several kinds of warm seeds, and a quantity of the hottest Chili-pepper. These ingredients are all kneaded with the oord flour and water into a tenacious paste, to form the popper, which is rolled into cakes not thicker than a wafer; these are first dried a little in the sun, and then baked by fire until crisp.

FORBES' Oriental Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 50.

2207. [5. A fire-plate] This was a round plate of iron, convex on the upper side, on which were baked thin cakes. It is still used in Arabia; and even in many parts of this island, where it is called a griddle.

Dr. GEDDES.

2208. [11.] At the city Callatebus, says HERODOTUS, a honey is made of the tamarisk and wheat. Herodot. Polymnia, ch. xxxi. Amongst the Zigantes a great abundance of honey is found, the produce of their bees; but of this they say a great deal more is made by the natives. Ibid. Melpom. ch. cxciv.

2211.

Salt was constantly used at all entertainments, both of the gods and men, whence a particular sanetity was believed to be lodged iu it; it is hence called theios als, divine salt, by Homer. (POTTER.) The Egyptians abhorred sea-salt.

2212.

See Beloe's note 146, on HERODOT. Euterpe, Ixxvii.

Olive oil, combined with sugar, readily mixes with water and flour; and is the fat of sacrifices. — As sugar is not changed by the action of the air, it is usually employed to preserve other vegetable matters from putrefaction. (NICHOLSON.) — Thus it appears, that sugar was the vegetable salt put into those cakes, which VIRGIL calls salsas fruges, sugared fritters.

2214.

The maple-tree yields a sap, which has a much more pleasant taste than the best lemonade or cherry water; and makes the most wholesome drink in the world. This liquor is drawn by cutting the tree two inches deep in the wood, the cut being run sloping to the length of ten or twelve inches; at the lower end of this gash, a knife is thrust into the tree slopingly, so that the water runs out by the knife into vessels placed to receive it. Some trees will yield five or six bottles of this water a-day; and some inhabitants of Canada might draw 20 hogsheads of it in one day, if they would thus cut and notch all the maples of their respective plantations. The gash does no harm to the tree. Of this sap

they make sugar and a syrup which is so excellent that there cannot be a better remedy for fortifying the stomach. PINKERTON's Coll. part liii. p. 359.

2215. [Lev. ii. 13.] At Canada in North America, there are two kinds of the sugar-maple; the swamp maple, found on low lands; and the mountain or curled maple, growing on high grounds, and having the grain of its wood beautifully variegated with little stripes and curls. The latter yields a pound of sugar from two or three gallons of its sap; the former, from six or seven gallons. A maple-tree of either species, whose diameter is twenty inches, will commonly yield sufficient sap for the making of five pounds of sugar each year, and instances have occurred of trees yielding nearly this quantity annually during a series of thirty years. Exod. xv. 25. WELD's Trav. in N. America, vol. i. p. 381.

2216.

Sugar and water, we are told, is, at present, a very common drink at Paris, and reckoned extremely wholesome, as it almost instantly alleviates any slight indigestion, or uneasiness of the stomach.

See PINKERTON's Recollections of
Paris, vol. i. p. 300.

2220. [Lev. ii. 13, 15.] There was oil added to sanctify all the sacrifices, except the sin-offering and the jealousyoffering; and incense was added, which seems to have been in practice in Noah's time, to give a sweet and acceptable smell; and salt (or sugar) to give taste.

HUTCHINSON'S Use of Reason restored, p. 285.

2221. [——— 14. A meat offering of thy first-fruits]

Like a dish of fruit and corn offered to Ceres.

2222.

Works of Sir W. JONES, vol. iv. p. 552.

In a temporary building, about a mile from the church of Axun, the Ras, while attending divine service, was secured from the view of all without by a curtain, within which was placed (before him) a erown of gold, some frankincense, dried grapes, and wheat: the incense was burnt; the corn and the raisins were made use of instead of the (eucharistical) bread and wine. (See Lord VALENTIA'S Trav. in Abyssinia, p. 245.) — This taking place, it seems, on the 20th of September, and in a fertile valley, was probably the royal mode of celebrating annually, the harvest festival.

See No. 902, 921, 924, 928, 918, 905, 337, 948.

2219. To preserve fruits for winter consumption, the general method is to put the fruit, with a sufficient quantity of sugar, into a vessel, which is placed on the fire, till the sugar, mixing with the juices which exude from the fruit, forms a strong syrup. The same effect will be produced by haking the fruit in a jar containing the sugar after the heat has caused the syrup sufficiently to penetrate the fruit, it is suffered to cool, and then put close into pots, jars (or skins), which are filled up with the syrup, and covered close with paper, and a cover of a skin of bladder or leather is tied over the mouth.

REES.

The berries of the White Cornish grape, when perfectly ripe, are transparent, so that the seeds appear very distinctly. (SPEECHLY, on the Vine, pp. 5, 6, 25.) These grapes, according to their size and value, and the skins they were put in, were called beeves, calves, sheep, rams, lambs, goats, kids, or birds, from different species of money in Asia; as gazette had its name from gazetta, a small coin of Venice, the original price there of a commercial newspaper. See Gen. xxxiii. 19.

See No. 868.

2231. [Lev. v. 1.] In the trial of offenders, none other than sworn witnesses were allowed: what these spoke was declared on oath read over to them; and if they then concealed what they knew, they were guilty of perjury.

Smith's MICHAELIS, vol. iv. p. 324.

2232. [— 2.] As the Holy Spirit, so the contrary spirit, comes forth by the touch. — Gases always intermingle and gradually diffuse themselves amongst each other, if exposed to contact ever so carefully without agitation; but it

2237.

In this sense of eating or sipping the wine with the holy bread, the Catholic priests, but not the laity, are allowed the Communion in both kinds; as, after a good influence has been received, a bad one may be admitted aud rejected or shed, for the remission of sins." See Matt. xxvi. 28, 42. Mark xvi. 18. But when the blood or wine of the sin-offering, in cases of actual offence, denoted that an evil influence had been admitted and had come into act, which the confessor was desirous might never enter again; in this instance, the blood of the sin-offering was to be poured on the earth as water, and the flesh to be burnt in the fire. - Such was the sin-offering of Jesus Christ's body: His blood, or the tempting influence He had hitherto borne in his outer man, was shed or rejected for ever; and his flesh became a burnt offering, when it deflagrated at the

ascension.

See No. 866.

2242. [26. Wafer] RICE-CAKE, made by boiling rice in water.

PERCIVAL'S Med. Ess. vol. ii. p. 42.

2243. [―30.] Our coffee being done, says BRUCE, I rose to take my leave, and was presently wet to the skin, by deluges of orange-flower water. (Trav. vol. iii. p. 14.)— At Rosetto, remarks NIEBUHR, the first time we were received with all the Eastern ceremonies, one of our compauy was exceedingly surprised, when a domestic placed himself before him, and threw water over him, as well on his face as over his clothes.

Descrip. Arabie, p. 52.

2248.

They should only have put incense on the censer, and placed it on the golden altar, that fire from the LORD might have consumed the incense as it did the burnt offering, ix. 24.

2249. [ -9. Thou shalt not drink wine nor strong drink] In an Essay on the gods of India, the Brahmins are positively forbidden to taste fermented liquors. (Works of Sir W. JONES, vol. i. p. 256.) — In like manner, the Gentoo magistrates must drink no wine.

See H ALHED's Preface to Gentoo Laws, p. 112. This is exactly the same prohibition that was given in the case of John Baptist, Luke i. 15. (Dr. A. CLARKE.) Why then do not the Methodists observe and keep it?