Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. NATURAL HISTORY Or ARABIA Want of Information on the Natural History of Arabia--Scientific Discoveries of the Danish Travellers--Geology--Mount Sinai--Hills of Hejaz and Yemen--Volcanic Rocks--Hot Springs--Soil--Agriculture--Crops--Harvest--Comparative Fertility of different Districts--Mineralogy--No Gold or Silver Mines in Arabia--Precious Stones--Botany--Vegetables--Plants--Coloquintida--Tobacco--Hemp--Trees And Shrubs--Fruit-trees -- The Palm --Date-groves--Manna-- Gum-arabic--Honey -- Shrubs --The Nebek--Tamarisk -- Balsam of Mecca--The Gharkad--Henna--Acacia--Incense Tree--Coffee--Zoology--Wild Animals -- Hyenas -- Monkeys -- Rock-goats--Hares--Jerboas --Domestic Animals-- Cows--Buffaloes--Asses--Horses--Camels--Dromedaries-- Sheep--Goats--Dogs--Mice-- Birds-- Poultry-- Birds of Game --Birds of Prey--The Ostrich--The Lapwing--The Samarman--Field-sports of the Arabs--Reptiles--Tortoises--Scorpions--Serpents--Fishes--Insects--The Locust--Ants --Tenebriones--Shells--Coral Banks. As few travellers comparatively have visited Arabia, it cannot be supposed that its natural history has been very minutely investigated. The knowledge of the ancients on this subject was extremely imperfect, consisting chiefly of fabulous or exaggerated reports as to some of the more celebrated of its mineral and vegetable productions. Several dseful observations, not indeed referring peculiarly to that country, occur in the works of Kaempfer, Bochart, Norden, Belon, Pauw, Rauwolf, and Tournefort. Shaw and Hasselquist were both distinguished for their attainments in physical science; but the reader will look in vain in their works for that systematic arrangement or accuracy of description which modern philosophy has introduced into every department...