DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10358#0157
MARITIME CITIES OF PALESTINE.
We alighted in the midst of these scenes, and rested for a little while under the spreading
branches of the solitary tree which is shown on page 113. We were about a mile from the
edge of the cliffs. Looking westward beyond the melon gardens, we could see a broad strip of
the sunlit Mediterranean, and a little fleet of Arab boats was sailing towards the north. The
melon gardens are by no means picturesque. The large rough melon leaves lie flat upon the
ground, which looked as if it were strewn with green and yellow marbles fit for giants to play
with. There were no hedges or trees to break the monotony of the view, but the busy
labourers gave life to it. The various plots of ground were divided by deep furrows, in which
thorns and thistles flourished, but they scarcely appeared above the level of the sandy soil.
SHITTIM TREE AT JAFFA,
In the Mohammedan cemetery north of the town, close to the sea. Represented at the hour of sunset, the time of evening prayer.
We wished to buy a few melons, but the overseer of the labourers told us that we might take
as many as we liked, though he could not sell them except by hundreds.
Some of the laden camels were journeying southwards, but the greater number were
engaged in carrying the fruit down to the port of Abu Zabura, where it was transferred to
Arab sailing boats. After a refreshing rest we rode through miles and miles of melon ground.
Wherever the land in this district is left uncultivated or fallow, the wild colocynth or
coloquintida (JAaA»-, hanzal) springs up plentifully. This fruit, which is intensely bitter, was,
on an average, three inches in diameter, and almost as hard as a stone, with a smooth
green, white, and yellow rind marked like fine marble. Some ancient beads of Phoenician
glass which I have seen appear to have been made in imitation of this fruit. We filled one of
We alighted in the midst of these scenes, and rested for a little while under the spreading
branches of the solitary tree which is shown on page 113. We were about a mile from the
edge of the cliffs. Looking westward beyond the melon gardens, we could see a broad strip of
the sunlit Mediterranean, and a little fleet of Arab boats was sailing towards the north. The
melon gardens are by no means picturesque. The large rough melon leaves lie flat upon the
ground, which looked as if it were strewn with green and yellow marbles fit for giants to play
with. There were no hedges or trees to break the monotony of the view, but the busy
labourers gave life to it. The various plots of ground were divided by deep furrows, in which
thorns and thistles flourished, but they scarcely appeared above the level of the sandy soil.
SHITTIM TREE AT JAFFA,
In the Mohammedan cemetery north of the town, close to the sea. Represented at the hour of sunset, the time of evening prayer.
We wished to buy a few melons, but the overseer of the labourers told us that we might take
as many as we liked, though he could not sell them except by hundreds.
Some of the laden camels were journeying southwards, but the greater number were
engaged in carrying the fruit down to the port of Abu Zabura, where it was transferred to
Arab sailing boats. After a refreshing rest we rode through miles and miles of melon ground.
Wherever the land in this district is left uncultivated or fallow, the wild colocynth or
coloquintida (JAaA»-, hanzal) springs up plentifully. This fruit, which is intensely bitter, was,
on an average, three inches in diameter, and almost as hard as a stone, with a smooth
green, white, and yellow rind marked like fine marble. Some ancient beads of Phoenician
glass which I have seen appear to have been made in imitation of this fruit. We filled one of