The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-30
SOME NEW BOOKs.
20 the Cedsrs Of I.ebanon-Ex piorations in
the Mountains Of syria,

sine are, undoubtedly a weariuess to the nesh.
Written by clergymen, who recognize the pro-
priety Of making some tangible return for tray
eiling expenses, or by ladies', who conceive
themselves to have an aptitude for literature,
these volumes. sacred to reverie and exhorta-
ton and set OF with biblical quotations, are an
sxasperatng disappointment to those who
would like to see the modern aspects Of Phenicia
distinctly and truthfuy portrayed. We do not
need to be Informed by tourists that the strip Of
land between the mountains Of Lebanon ana
the sea has played, next TO the Nile valley, the
most important role In primitive civilization;
but we do expect that a competent observer Will
ncquaint us with the actual condition OF the
eountry, not forgetting Its natural products,
from which many OF our cultivated plants
have been derived. This ls the kind OF work
performed by Germans, and we have sample
Of IL in the record of three months Journey
undertaken by Prof OSCAR FRAAs In the spring
Of 1875. There ia no pious sentiment or me
writing In his Drei Monate am Lebanon, but we
,hall ind In IL an abundance OF novel and inter
psting facts set forth Ia plain and cautious lam
Tuage
II appears that very different boundaries are
assigned to the Lebanon region according to
The use Of the name In a political or geograph-
oai sense. In the latter case Lebanon means
simply the range OF mountains between the sea
and the Bckdd, that deep-sunken Interior plain
which the Greeks called Coele- Syria, two rivers,
Me Litanl aud Nahr Kebir, skirting the district
pn the north and south. The natural limits,
therefore, OF Lebanon are as unequivocal as the
origin OF lite name-white Mountaln-which, of
pourse, paints the contrast of snow-oapped
peaks with the intense hues OF tropic land
lcape. Coincident with this sharply defined
territory was until recent times the district Of
lhe same name, which, under princes more or
less independent. formed part OF the province
pf Syria. Through the influence OF the Western
powers, however, Mount Lebanon was consti-
ated 10 1862 an independent pashallc, admins
lered by a Christian Governor under the con-
rol Of the foreign ambassadors. The limits OF
his anomalous department differ essentially
hon the natural boundaries OF Lebanon, hsv-
ing been planned In Constantinople with exclu-
live reference to religious distinctions. VII
lagos, for instance, where Mohammedans pre-
ponderate are still Included In the old rdleyat Of
Damascus, whereas all Christian communities
nppertan to the new Government. In order to
invest, 80 far Ms possible, the modern province
Of any political significance. the three important
ports OF Beyrut, Trpol and Saida were assign
I'd to Syria. Nevertheless the attempt to az IN
practice confines which, even upon paper, were
snsymmetrical and confused, Is productive Of
hcessant quarrels and disturbances.
THE naturalist's attention Ia irst directed to
HE geographical features of Lebanon, whose
highest peaks are not less than l0,5OO feet above
the sea, although they are only distant from
II about fifteen miles In a straight line. In this
short interval. easily trayersed 10 day, you run
through the whole eamut OF temperature and
climate encountered In approaching the arctic
circle; In other words, an ascent OF Mount
bannin from the coast Is equivalent to a journey
from BeyIut to Archangel. The swift transition
In scenery and climate, signalized of course In
the fora and fauna Of the country, make travel
In Lebanon more Interesting TO the student Of
nature than to the tourist, who misses the
meadow and forest which constitute the charm
OF western landscape. when the snow melts
In early spring the fields are cheerful with the
fresh green of the young wheat sud barley. but
this beauty Ia of short duration. Under the
scorching Syrian sun the grain ripens. while of
the plants, which awoke for moment under
The winters moisture, only the hard, tough,
thorny sorts survive. The absence Of forest
verdure Is even more conspicuous, what the
Arab calls a wood being a group Of perhaps a
eozen scattered trees, totally devoid of under
Erowth and commonly robbed Of their lower
branches. Prof. Fraas, who had been requested
by the Governor to examine the coal formations
Of this region, found the natives Indifferent TO
their mineral wealth. "why should Dig for
eoalf' rich farmer Of Lebanon said to him.
"we use Our forests" his notion Of use being to
level with his short curved Ratchet everything
N the shape OF tree, shrub, or sapling.
The 1rst tree which greets the eye Of the trav-
eler while he is vet on shipboard in Beyrut hsr-
Dor is the palm, whose name, PhGntr ddctvltt,rd
identifies II with ts native land, and whose
slender, Isolated stem, sharply outlined against
dark blue sky, forms so essential a feature Of
Eastern scenes that no sphinx or pyramid or
patTiarch's tent Is conceivable without II. In
Syria this tree Is only found within a very mar
row strip Of coast land, disappearing with the
kTst marked elevation of the soil and possesses
therefore, none Of the Importance ascribed to II
In Arabia and Egypt as a purveyor Of food. Con-
lined to the same zone as the palm, but far IN ore
useful, is the a. cactus. Not only does Its fruit
form the principal sustenance OF toe poorer
classes from July TO September, but the con
oeptlon Of private property In Syria. especially
respecting natural products, is so lax, that "a
hedge Of cactus nine 10 twelve feet high ia an
Indispensable landmark and protection. When
We are told that even a ride on the backs OF
mules or camels along roads bordered with these
hedges Is rarely accomplished without torn
elothing and rent nesh wo measure the Sc
curity Afforded by such ramparts.
The Characteristic tree Of the second zone
through which you pass IN the ascent Of Leba-
non Is the owe, whose boughs IN THIS region
peem TO be thin ana weak, and whose trunks are
usually crooked, as II stricken by lightning. The
olive grows Wild everywhere in Lebanon, but
must be cultivated 10 Yield edible fruit when
Il begins TO rpen In the month OF June, the Der
hes Intended for pickling are FIRST gathered. and
little later from the completely ripened fruit
IA pressed the oil which the Syrian, Ike all South
ern races prefers TO any species OF fat 1t Is worth
noting that in the olive plantations OF Lebanon
no attempt Is made TO cultivate vegetables as Is
elsewhere practsed, the soil between the tree
being kept clear and ploughed twice every year.
As the cactus accompanied the palm, so the a =
was found associated with the olive. This Is It
true house tree, being easily trained over wall,
and palings. and Is made by grating 10 yield
many varieties Of az distinct Ia size and color
as well as flavor. These Two trees the ny and
the olive, may claim no uncomfortable share iu
Me development Of civilized man, who Seems
hrst to have acquired IN these mountains the art
Of improving fruit by grating and selection.
The cultivation OF trees exactnG several year. Tor
lhe frultion oflabor might naturally suggest the
oea OF home and OF individual property. We
may add that 20 this second zone belongs the
mulberry, which the Phenicians and Greeks