NATURAL HISTORY; BEING AN ACCOUNT OF ANIMALS, TREES, PLANTS, AND PRECIOUS STONES MENTIONED IN Holy Scripture, GIVEN PRINCIPALLY IN EXTRACTS FROM THE WORKS OF TRAVELLERS: TOGETHER WITH SOME REMARKS ON AGRICULTURE, CLIMATE, &c. PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE SODLE LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE LLOY SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE; SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, AND 4, ROYAL EXCHANGE; 1848. PREFACE. IN the Preface to the Second Edition of the "Manners and Customs in the East," it was mentioned that the chapters on Natural History and Agriculture were therein omitted, and that it was intended they should form part of a separate volume. They are reprinted in the present work, with many additions gathered from various sources. A Scripture Herbal, and a brief account of Precious Stones, is also contained in this little Book. On these two subjects, the Compiler would observe, that the information respecting them has been put in the simplest form; so as, it is hoped, to prove intelligible and instructive to those who have hitherto had little or no knowledge on these points. Nice Botanical and Mineralogical distinctions have therefore been carefully avoided; at the same time the Compiler trusts that the information given will be found so generally correct, as not to incur the censure of those whose time and talents have been long devoted to the study of these subjects. NEWPORT, I. W. January 10th, 1848. M. F. M. |