The Florida agriculturist., 1884-11-26

CHAPTER ~.
ART, -Tramsn.igrdtion of the Stoeet-
fruited Orange C0njectures upon
the times Of this eUe,at.
The Crusades have enriched Western
Europe with the most of the Asiatic
plants, acclimated by the Arabians in
the different countries under their do
minion, during the best days of their
power.
But these warlike apostle, who, during
the early centuries of their Hegira had
formed colonies so numerous in the re-
gions beyond the Indus, were stopped in
their career OF conquest, and maintained
with these countries commerce only pro-
portioned to the luxury of the West.
This luxury was itself very limited in
centuries when the people lived with a
simplicity of manners natural to those
scarcely emerged from barbarislm.
Europeans knew very little of the pro-
ductions of Asia, except the manufac-
lures of Syria and Persia, which were as
yet introduced only among the great.
The people, who were then either slaves
or soldiers, had but very few wants
1t was not until after the first religious
enterprises in Palestine that the Euro
peans, who had made great advances to-
wards civilization, and who, during their
conquests, had acquired taste for the
merchandise of the Indies, sought with
avidity the productions of that rich
country.
The small amount of trade which, up
to that time, had connected Europe with
Asia, was carried on in the Caspian Sea
by the natives of the country, and in the
Red Sea and in Syria, by the Arabs.
Europeans, Just beginning to turn their
attention in this direction, would buy
the few articles of which they felt need
in the markets OF these people, and on
hard conditions.
Difference in religion, and consequent
ly in manners and ideas, rendered it
nearly impossible for them to penetrate
into the regions of the East. The Arabs,
masters of these means of intercourse,
not being stimulated by emulation, or
competition, measured their specula-
tions but by the sales they could make
in Europe.
>Shorn of their ancient power, and
forced, by lack of vessels, by the nature
of the country, and by the insufficient
police among them, to voyage by cara
vans, they would buy their mercandise
only in the markets of India, where it
was carried by the natives.
The Crusaders brought about revo-
luton in the commercial system of these
regions. BY augmenting among the peo-
pie of the West the love of luxury and
of opulence, they indirectly multiplied
the business relations and the industry
of all concerned in gratifying these de-
sires.
They opened to the Europeans the en-
trance to Asia, and thus furnished to an
active, enterprising people the means of
knowledge and of extending the trade
of India.
From the first the colonies of Chris
tians in Palestine gave facilities for pen
etrating into those countries, and after
wards the reciprocal want of articles of
merchandise to which they we've accus-
toned, added to the love of gain, of
which they had tasted the advantages
on both sides, maintained among these
people ties and relations, even amidst
the difficulties and fetters presented by
the differences in religion, and by polit-
ical rivalries.
We therefore behold a crowd OF .adwen-.
turers going into the interior of Asia,
and on their return to Europe spreading
knowledge of those lands and their pro-
ductions.
The obstacles to, and dangers OF, these
voyages weSe very great ) but what cam
with thirst for gold and passion of dis
,eovery?
Often it Was necessary to become Ma
hometans in order to be accepted in the
caravan, and it was only in caravans
that the Arabs themselves could pass
frOn the Mediterranean sea to the Indian
ocean.
They were exposed to an infnity of
dangers OF every sort, dor these voyages
offered such, whether they traversed
Arabia to Mecca and Alden, or the route
of the Persian gulf by Asia Minor, or, fl
nally, that of the Bed sea-, the most per-
ilous and difficult.
But the enthusiasm foE voyaging SO
Glled the minds of Europeans that they
would brave all dangers to penetrate into
these regions. and the adventures of
Marco Polo, Nicolas de Cont, Jerome of
Santo-Stefano, and many Others, are
monuments of the courage and obstinacy
of these adventurers. ut is surprising
that Marco Poia, who reached China and
India, has never spoken of the orange