DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50017#0222
138
PLANTS IN SCRIPTURE
Whether this ever had its natural growth, or were an
original native plant in Judaea, much more that it was
peculiar unto that country, a greater doubt may arise:
while we read in Pausanias, Strabo, and Diodorus,
that it grows also in Arabia, and find in Theophrastus,1
that it grew in two gardens about Jericho in Judaea.
And more especially while we seriously consider that
notable discourse between Abdella, Abdachim, and
Alpinus, concluding the natural and original place of
this singular plant to be in Arabia, about Mecha and
Medina, where it still plentifully groweth, and mountains
abound therein; 2 from whence it hath been carefully
transplanted by the bashas of Grand Cairo, into the
garden of Matarea : where, when it dies, it is repaired
again from those parts of Arabia, from whence the
Grand Signior yearly receiveth a present of balsam
from the xeriff of Mecha, still called by the Arabians
balessan ; whence they believe arose the Greek appella-
tion balsam. And since these balsam plants are not
now to be found in Judaea, and though purposely
cultivated, are often lost in Judaea, but everlastingly
live, and naturally renew in Arabia, they probably
concluded, that those of Judaea were foreign and
transplanted from these parts.
1 Lib. ix., cap. 6 2 Prosper Alpinus, de Bahama.
PLANTS IN SCRIPTURE
Whether this ever had its natural growth, or were an
original native plant in Judaea, much more that it was
peculiar unto that country, a greater doubt may arise:
while we read in Pausanias, Strabo, and Diodorus,
that it grows also in Arabia, and find in Theophrastus,1
that it grew in two gardens about Jericho in Judaea.
And more especially while we seriously consider that
notable discourse between Abdella, Abdachim, and
Alpinus, concluding the natural and original place of
this singular plant to be in Arabia, about Mecha and
Medina, where it still plentifully groweth, and mountains
abound therein; 2 from whence it hath been carefully
transplanted by the bashas of Grand Cairo, into the
garden of Matarea : where, when it dies, it is repaired
again from those parts of Arabia, from whence the
Grand Signior yearly receiveth a present of balsam
from the xeriff of Mecha, still called by the Arabians
balessan ; whence they believe arose the Greek appella-
tion balsam. And since these balsam plants are not
now to be found in Judaea, and though purposely
cultivated, are often lost in Judaea, but everlastingly
live, and naturally renew in Arabia, they probably
concluded, that those of Judaea were foreign and
transplanted from these parts.
1 Lib. ix., cap. 6 2 Prosper Alpinus, de Bahama.