vessel is round, and divided into four quarters. At first it is almost white, but gradually becomes pink. At the apex there is a little green tuft, in the shape of a Greek cross. When the seed is quite ripe, it is about half an inch in diameter, and of a deep, shining, red color.
I have been told that it was of this thorn that the wreath was made, which once crowned the head of Christ. It may be so. I have never seen a plant of which so beautiful, and at the same time so cruel, a crown could be composed. This thorn is the Poterium spinosum. About Easter, it is seen in all its beauty, the leaves glossy and full-grown, the fruit or seed-vessels brilliantly red, like drops of blood, and the thorns sharper and stronger than at any other time. No plant or bush is so common on the hills of Judea, Galilee, and Carmel as this. It is used extensively for fuel, especially for the bakers' ovens, and "the crackling of thorns under a pot" may often be heard in Palestine.
The gardens and orchards looked very beautiful. Almond-trees were full of blossom. Lemon and shaddock trees were laden with fruit. The Winter rains were over; "flowers appeared on the earth, the time of the singing of birds had come, and the voice of the turtle was heard in the land." And again the appearance of the town of Hâifa was perfectly changed. The last few days of warmth and uninterrupted sunshine had quite withered and burned up all "the grass on the house-tops," so that there was not a green spot left. Boys and girls were gathering the short yellow hay; but there was very little of it, for the grass had not had time to grow up fully, or put forth its seed; and the harvest on the house-tops was mere child's play, "wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom." Psalm cxxix, 6–8.
On the 19th of February, early in the morning, a young Bedouin brought me a large wooden bowl full of clotted cream, and announced the coming of four men of his tribe. While he spoke, they entered. They were rejoicing, on account of the abundance of milk which their flocks yielded
