'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎363] (438/905)

CHAP. XVI.] VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS.
363
or gymnotus (according to Messrs. Dumeril and Bebron) and
common turtle, attain considerable magnitude.
The palm is seen occasionally ; but this and other tropical Fruits,
fruits do not arrive here at the same perfection as they attain
at a short distance southward. The pistachio, the quince, and
the carob or locust-tree 1 flourish; and the rest of the vegetable
productions are nearly the same as those of Southern Europe,
but are more perfect.
Of trees may be noticed the spreading cypress 2 (Arbor Trees and
vitse), the stone pine (Pinus pinea), the wild pear, the Judas-tree shrubs "
(Cercis siliquastrum), the Siberian crab, and the carob or St.
John's head (Ceratonia siliqua). The chestnut and the wal
nut are usually of large growth ; the oriental plane, as well as
the beech, attains an extraordinary size; and the like may be
said of many shrubs, such as the olive, bay-laurel, oleander,
myrtle, and heath,—the last being almost a tree. In some
parts of the country wild vines cluster over the trees, beneath
which there is a thicket of wild lavender, lilac, and white
cistus, rising to the height of 4 or 5 feet. Elsewhere tracts
are covered with the flowering acacia, the arbutus (Arbutus
unedo), and rhododendron, all in the greatest perfection.
The chief products are silver, copper, iron, lead, and alum; J i r e oduc ^ t ons of
fine figs, grapes, and other fruits; grain; silk, cotton, hemp,
and hemp-seed; flax, tobacco, opium, saffron ; madder, mastic,
and other gums; galls, yellow berries, sheep's wool, goat's
hair, skins, hides, leeches, sponges, wax, honey, salt, and some
wine.
The people of the country are employed in weaving tents. Employments
hair-bags, and the celebrated carpets; in the preparation of otthepeople-
various kinds of leather, and the manufacture of culinary
utensils. These furnish the means of carrying on a domestic
trade, and likewise afford ample returns for the purchase of
British and other manufactured goods; but the commerce is
trifling compared with that which might be prosecuted in a
country occupying the most favourable position possible, hav
ing extensive lines of sea-coast, along which are chains of
1 Ceratonia siliqua. 2 A variety of the Cupressus serapervirens.
3 A 2