guage, it alludes only to the flowers of the shrub, which have a great refemblance to a bunch of grapes. One is surprised to read, in a relation printed at Bologna, November the 11th, 1572, that Selim II, emperor of the Turks, without refpecting the talim, went to conquer Cyprus, in order that he might be mafter of its wines. This prince had wafted his youth in the effeminacy and debauchery of the feraglio; and the laurels of his predeceffors appeared in his eyes worthy of contempt rather than of envy, as being too dearly purchased by the fatigues and dangers of arms. A queftion, however, put to him by one of his women, changed in an inftant this pacific difpofition. Some excellent Cyprus wine, with which the favourite was not acquainted, being ferved up to them during a voluptuous repaft, fhe found it fo delicious, that the asked Selim from what place he had procured it, and whether the fortunate foil that produced it was contained within the vaft extent of his empire. The Sultan, finding himself humbled on this queftion, fuddenly quitted his new favourite; and having convoked his council, appointed Piali admiral of his gal lies, and Muftapha generaliffimo of his forces; and gave orders for all his troops to be assembled, and to hold themselves in readiness to receive his commands. "I propofe," faid he, " to conquer "Cyprus; an island which contains a treasure that none but the king of kings ought to poffefs." દ This expedition is defcribed in a very interefting manner by Father Angelo, of the Order of St. Dominic, and vicar-general of the Holy Land. He refided in Cyprus at the time when Nicofia was taken. We are almoft tempted to laugh when we find grave hiftorians telling us that Selim undertook this enterprize from motives of glory, Another Another monk, called Stephen Lufignan, who was also a witness to the defeat of the Cypriots, confirms this fact which I have related. He fays that the Ottomans, having in their researches dif. covered fome wine eighty years old, fent it with great care to the feraglio, as the most valuable part of the booty. These wines were reserved for the fick; and, to give an idea of their quality, Father Stephen tells us that they kindled in the fire, and burnt like oil. There is no longer any of these wines in Cyprus. The oldeft that can be found are thofe preferved under ground, in earthen veffels: their age, in general, does not exceed twenty or twenty-five years; and I am of opinion that there would be none even fo old, were it not for the custom which the Christians have of burying one of these veffels at the birth of each child, to be ferved up afterwards at their marriage. This wine, whatever may be the fate of the child, is never employed in commerce. I do not know what were the properties of these wines eighty years old, which were formerly very common in the ifland; but I can affert that thofe kept at present for twenty years cure feveral dif eafes, and even fome that are inveterate, as I myfelf have experienced. Having been attacked for two months with a tertian ague, which degenerated into a quartan, I was beginning to defpair of my condition, when a Cypriot, whom I accidentally faw, made me acquainted with the remedy ufually employed in fuch cafes; which is only a glafs of old wine, drank when the fit increafes. Having followed this prefcription, I foon fell asleep; and when I awakened I found myself perfectly well, and never was troubled with the diforder any more. Such cases belong to the marvellous, no doubt; but they are nevertheless nevertheless true, and appear very simple to the Cypriots. Cyprus wine is employed alfo with equal fuccefs for cleanfing wounds. If you dip a rag in a glassfull of this wine, and apply it to the injured part, it becomes a falutary balm, which does not fail foon to heal the wound, and to cause it to shut entirely. I am much astonished that the European merchants, who know all the qualities of this falutary liquor, do not attempt to bring fome plants of the vine which produces it from Cyprus to Europe. I am well aware that the difference of climate may have prevented them; but I believe also that the care and industry of our cultivators would tend greatly to render this difference much less fenfible. Should these memoirs fall into the hands of any of them, I hope they may induce them to make the trial. Whoever does it will undoubtedly risk very little; and, in cafe of fuccefs, will enrich his country with a moft profitable production. Whatever may be the event, I fhall here mention those precautions which ought to be taken in transporting the young plants. When they are pulled from the ground, if no ready opportunity can be found to tranfmit them to Europe, it will be fufficient to keep them in water to the depth of about a foot and a half. When they are to be sent off, they must be bound together in the form of a bundle; the roots must then be wrapped up in coarse canvas, and they must be put into a hamper or basket filled with a mixture of earth and river fand; for fea fand must not be used when this is done, the hamper is to be covered with a piece of coarse cloth, but in fuch a manner that the heads of the young plants, bound together in small bunches, may be left on the putfide. This hamper, about a foot and a half in depth, is to covered with earth; and the space between the fides of the hamper and those of the barrel is to be filled with a mixture of earth, river fand, cut straw, and a few grains of barley. Care must be taken to choose a barrel a little higher than the hamper. With regard to the heads of the young plants, which rife uncovered above the barrel, as well as the hamper, it will be fufficient to cover them with fome cloth, in order to fecure them from duft. Young plants, to be kept in that state of freshnefs which is neceffary for their prefervation, require to be watered in the paffage with a little fresh water; which may easily be done, either by recommending them to the captain, or promifing a fmall reward to the failors. Plants thus prepared, will doubtless arrive at the place of their destination without any kind of accident. It is then the business of the cultivator to plant them in fuch earth as he thinks proper for them. The obfervations which I have made on the temperature of Cyprus, the nature of its foil, and the expofition of its vines, may in this refpe& fupply the place of experience. Every thing induces me to believe that the Cyprus vines, transplanted in this manner, would fucceed as well as the Mufcadines of Syracufe, which were lately brought to Florence by the celebrated Charles Ginori. At his delightful country feat may be feen many exotics, which have not degenerated; and I flatter myself that the teftimonies of gratitude and esteem which he has received from the public, will encourage others to follow his example. CHAP. CHA P. XXXII. OF THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO INHABIT SYRIA AND PALESTINE. BEFORE I defcribe the cities of Syria and Paleftine, I fhall give an account of the different people who inhabit those provinces, not only from my own obfervation, but alfo from what I have read concerning them. On this fubject I fhall make ufe of feveral authentic memoirs and relations, which were transmitted to me from various places by perfons every way worthy of credit. OF THE ARABS. All those people who inhabit the three Arabias, Arabia the Happy, Arabia the Defart, and Arabia the Stony, are diftinguished by the appellation of Arabs: they are known alfo by other particular names; fuch as thofe of the Ifhmaelites, the Hagarenians, the Scenites, the Saracens, and the Bedouins. The Arabs boaft of being defcended from Ifhmael, the fon of Abraham and Hagar; and on this account they have acquired the denomination of Ishmaelites and Hagarenians. Scenites fignifies people who live under tents; and by Saracens and Bedouins, are understood robbers and wanderers. At prefent, however, all these names are confounded under that of Bedouin Arabs. These people derive all their fubfiftence from their flocks, from hunting, and from what they acquire |