"Thy 'What has the wild boar to do in the vineyards ?' inquired Mr. Leeves. 'Oh,' said the Greek servant, it is the custom of the wild boars to go into the vineyards and devour the grapes; and it is astonishing what havoc a wild boar is able to make in a single night. What with eating, and what with trampling under foot, he will destroy an immense quantity of grapes.' Few persons, probably, have had an equally good opportunity of observing how exactly this passage of Scripture agrees with the habits of the wild boar; but every one who has visited the countries where grapes are grown in the fields in large quantities for the purpose of making wine, will be well acquainted with the custom referred to when it is said, 'All they which pass by do pluck her.' It is considered allowable, in passing through a vineyard, to gather a few of the grapes."1 In the same way, in the Song of Solomon, the Church or Royal Bride is described as "a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed." plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire with spikenard; spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon." A new significance is given to this passage when you read the following account of the garden-houses at Jaffa :-"In each of them there is a summer residence, which, besides serving for this purpose, is used as a magazine to store and preserve the gathered fruit. Cooler and more delightful apartments cannot be found when the khamsin or sirocco blows off the Egyptian and Arabian deserts. In these country-houses a channel is made to traverse the centre of the lower rooms, through which the water is made to flow, after being raised by the wheel, on its way to the jalia or reservoir, affording thereby the convenient use of this element to the inmates; and, besides being gratifying to the eye in the heat of summer, it contributes to cool the atmosphere 1 Quoted in E. Maltby's Bible Manners and Customs (1840), p. 215. of the apartments. For my part, I will freely admit that, in a climate such as Palestine, the luxury is not trivial, on entering these gardens, to repose by the side of gurgling streams; and I can appreciate the full enjoyment experienced by the natives as they regale themselves, amidst the perfume of the orange blossom, with coffee and pipe. These gardens, then, are the usual resort of parties; and here, with music in addition, families consisting of both sexes assemble to inhale the balmy odours from the shrubs, which assuredly have a tendency to lull the senses in delicious reverie, and produce that kef or dreamy state of the faculties which the natives so much covet."1 1 Dapuis. |